When we have friends over for dinner - or are invited to friends' homes, no one looks into the kitchen or the garden. Unless the cook calls for help. People talk and look at each other instead.
I'm not a cooking show!
You talk at the table, but not with the cook, since half the people have their backs to them.
I think both seating positions have advantages and disadvantages.
Honestly: everyone has a neck under their head. When I have visitors, they look around. At the plate, at the cook, outside, or at the new piece of furniture. When I'm visiting, I look around. I don't care whether I'm looking at a nice dresser when I'm visiting or the plant pot on the terrace. I also get up sometimes if something interests me, and if someone outside sees an alien, they can call out, and everyone turns around. Basically, people occupy themselves with either themselves or something at the table.
I find this discussion about who looks where a bit exaggerated. If you consider your own preferences, alone or as a couple, then the thoughts are justified, but if you receive guests at 7 p.m., then it is either already dark outside or you are (still) sitting outside on the terrace. Or the shutters block the view anyway.