Nor are they for my druid, but I guess classes with no/limited healing or shields may have an issue, or people playing on potatoes could have framerate issues. Personally I think they make the fight hilarious.
For the pushback, I just stay near the middle of the room with my back to a corner/pylon, gives you the most running room. I know as a druid I never get knocked off, but he only does it once per transition phase, so most classes should be fine, mage blinks, hunter disengage (turn and disengage towards boss obviously), cavalier charges, wraith walk etc.