I agree---"Reverse Openings" such as 1) a3 and 1) e3 are becoming more popular in general.
Many players opt to "punt" on the first move with white, hoping to whack black in a favorable transposition.
Reverse Sicilian Dragon or Reverse King's Indian are better than above.
I struggle with this ever since I started. I don't play on this site too much anymore. But I'd say for every win as white I have 4 as black. For me black takes the guess work out. White chooses the road and I just drive down it. No pressure. As white I feel this odd pressure to get a win, now it's to the point of it's a thing. I rather play black every game. It's so odd. As black I try to play aggressive trying for a reverse QG. AND as white I rather play reversed defense. Semi Slav/ colle. The day someone invents a way to force a reversed French I'd fall in love playing the white side. I hate moving first.
Same with me, I Love the French defense, and the Sicilian najdorf, am very aggressive and logical. While when am white I like to play the king's gambit or just play the king pawn opening.
Have you ever seen somebody played the French defense? I have and I usually still by moving my f pawn to squares forward. It makes me feel structurally safe and organized in my slow fight to win.
Many players work twice as hard on their Black repertoire than on their White.
I agree xD. Having a friend (not me!) who played tournaments, he tries hard to bring his black disadvantage up.