Thanks for the details!
I agree that the animations (or lack of) are currently disorienting and will definitely need to be improved.
I think the problem with the lack of predictability is a problem with how the game is presented to the player. The push back direction is based on the direction the player is looking (pushes opposite from the direction the player is looking/hits). I will have to keep in mind in the future how I present mechanics.
Thanks again for the helpful feedback!