Is it old fashioned to want the seating in rows, with everyone facing the front. This way when teaching the teacher can teach facing front and be able to see the whole class at one time?
Is this old fashioned? Yes. Is being old fashioned a bad thing? Possibly. This depends entirely on what works best for your students. There are many ways to arrange a classroom and, while they all have their own advantages and disadvantages, they're not MANDATORY unless you are specifically having problems with everything else.
I agree with this. I personally beleive that change is a good thing and switching up the seating arrangement throughout the year can be a good thing.
I do not think it is old fashioned. For the first day especially, rows can be great because not all the students know each other. Later in the semester, it may be good to switch it up to a U shape, if students are presenting, or in groups, if students are working on group projects.