I do the same as you, Bayflite, mainly for the reason that the wind is gonna blow my lines downwind
away from me and the bar and lines. Walking downwind and having my lines upwind of me, seems like it gives the lines the ability to get blown slack, form knots, and try to tangle around me, especially in 25 knots or more.
I actually walk my lines out first though, then pump up my kite. That gives my kite that much less time to blow away.
I then attach the two outside lines, walk back to my bar and re-walk out my lines to make sure they are okay before hooking up the fronts.
Don't you also have to remember to twist the bar upside down (and back again) if you rig the "other" way?
I would forget once in a hundred times to do the flip. Yikes on that 100th time
I also don't like to turn my back to a "live" kite if I am in any way attached to it, fiddling with lines etc.
Kites seem more friendly these days, but I swear when I first started they were always looking for a chance to whack me.
I simply won't give them the satisfaction.
I will most likely get killed kiting (or driving my car), still the same.