>
>Given that the goal is to reverse rotation;

Reversed rotation isn't the goal. The goal is to have the forces within the
CV joint apply in the opposite direction. Which way the axle shaft spins is
irrelevant.

Say you have the left side axle in your hands, left hand on the wheel end,
right hand on the tranny end. The tranny puts pressure on the right hand CV
in the forward direction. The wheel supplies resistance in the left hand
CV, essentially putting pressure in the opposite direction (backwards).
Looking at either end of the left-side axle, the force is applied in a
clockwise direction. The goal is to cause the forces to act in the
counter-clockwise direction on that axle. Flipping it endwise doesn't
change the direction the force is applied. The only way to do that is to
put it on the other side.

John Bange
'90 Vanagon "Geldsauger"