RE: Why pull back to go up?
one thing needs some correction. the first aircraft were NOT set up this way. the wright's flyer had a cradle for wing warping as well as a stick. early planes were very much a product of the designer and a variety of systems were used . the French I think came up wuth a more or less standard set up seen on full size planes . there were other secondary control differences as well(ie brakes, flaps)