Whenever I take the “easier way” and go to a stranger, I almost always get a face-to-face confession! Serves me right!
I think the “face-to-face” confessional was inspired by the Evil One to destroy the sacrament—especially, of course, where the screen is not available.
BTW: In every church I’ve ever been in, where there is a screen, the person who might wish to use it is forced to kneel. This is stupid. There is no inherent connection between using the screen and kneeling. Many, many elderly people are forced to go face-to-face because they cannot kneel. I can’t but think that many stay away entirely! If this is the situation in your church, ask your pastor to put a chair by the screen.