I think Henry has it exactly right. The way I look at it, if you add or subtract one working high card point from each hand, then they both have clear decisions. With their exact hands, I'd say they both had coin flips. We didn't bid a game ...
"and is slowly getting used to the fact that 5431 doesn’t always have to be unbalanced."
Sabine: We play a similar structure; are you saying you open 1♣ with (13)45 if not in NT range, then rebid as if you were balanced? We currently open those hands ...
From East's POV, the opps could be cold for 7♣. How can pass be forcing? We haven't announced hand ownership. That being said, if hearts were 3-0, we just took a winning save, since they didn't double.