Near field listening and speaker placement

We have a large music room (20x30) with a cathedral
ceiling and front outside wall angled out at 105 degrees,
(typical contemporary) with a tall bank of windows. In
order to avoid interaction with the glass, speakers must
be placed along short (20FT) axis of room. The room is
live (hardwood floors), although we have thick wool 9x12
rug in front of speakers

We would like to use a near field listening configuration,
and have several questions:

1. We assume nearfield listening is an attempt at zero
interaction with boundaries so that only direct path sound
arrives at the ear. Is this the consensus, or have we
overlooked something in the definition?

2. Speakers are placed 6 feet from the "back" wall. What
is the result of eliminating the back wall from the
listening equation?

3. In order to minimize interaction with the floor (the
closest boundary) should we worry about carpet on the
sides and behind, not just in front of our speakers?

4. Are there a canonical set of rules for spatial
optimization in near field set ups?

Guidance from the experienced is much appreciated.