The priest faces the same direction as the congregation. He doesn't turn his back on us any more than a bus driver or pilot turns his back.  Hopefully we are all going to the same place. 

Sometimes the priest speaks audibly, sometimes not. I like hearing Mass in a language that we use just to worship God...and following along in the Missal is good enough for me. 

The priest speaks to the congregation during the sermon. I don't need to be pandered to during the Eucharistic prayer or to have the priest stop the Mass to insert stuff like it's so and so's anniversary or do we have any visitors today or tell jokes or ad lib the Mass prayers...offering the Sacrifice of the Mass to God is what he is there for. I don't need the priest to make me feel affirmed.