Yeah, it's not a nice feeling to hit your opponent.

About the rules, the thinking goes like this:

• If you were wreckless or playing dangerously the ref may give you a warning or penalty for this. That's unusual and doesn't describe your situation.
• If your shot hits the opponent while travelling directly to the front wall it will be a stroke to you. Your opponent has effectively prevented that direct shot by being between the ball and the front wall. This assumes of course that it was an accident. The player isn't "entitled" to hit their oppoent. You are entitled to hit directly to any part of the front wall. The proviso of course is that if you find your opponent in the way you should ask for a Let for safety reasons. It's a judgement issue when you think you can safely play the ball vs asking for a let.
• If your shot was going to the side wall (and would have been good) this'd be a Let.
• If your shot hit the opponent, but would not have reached the front wall it's your opponent's point.

Your Note to Self:

1 is Always a good idea. Especially if you're going cross court, be confident that you have room to do so

3 It's a risk/reward thing. Ideally you would always watch your opponent play their shot to know where you have to move. Eyewear might make you feel safer. Depends too on the skill & control your opponent has. Whenever I hit with a first time player I'll never look at them when they are in the back right. The shot is almost always a crazy loose cross court.

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