Borek, retrograde orbits (basically the orbiting body doing so against the rotation of the orbited body) with tidal interactions are calculated showing that the orbiting bodies will crash, just as it is predicted to do so with Triton around Neptune. Triton does this, for it is thought to be a...
Sorry mfb that only works if you're assuming that the tidal force is just works linearly. It doesn't.
The differential force on the Earth caused by the Moon is dF_Earth ≈ r^-3 dr. Since the mass of the tidal bulge raised by this force is proportional to it, then the m ≈ r^-3 dr.
Now the...
Forget all of that, we'd have bigger problems if the Moon orbited backward. A retrograde orbit with a tidal drag would cause the Moon's orbit to decay and come crashing back into the Earth. Don't go there!
From my notes, the Emp. seamounts started about 75 Mya as the Pacific plate seems to have moved SSE-wards, then 43 Mya, it took a turn more towards the ESE and becoming the Hawaiian ridge. There is also a set of mounts with the Tuamotu group and the "Line Islands" called the Christmas Ridge...
To really see evidence of the mantle convective hotspot, look at the Emperor Seamounts of the Pacific. Here the Pacific seems to have moved over a stationary hotspot and the plate seems to have changed direction some time ago. http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/image/2minrelief.html