Okay so, this topic is giving me headaches so I decided to study the video. I'm using the new, non-shaky one that JPGames.de put up.

In at least one instance, when he is running downhill on passive mode, he turns the camera to the left while running in a certain direction, sufficiently that you can get a side view of the character, while still running in that direction. However in other instances he is running and turning with the camera. Sounds like the camera won't be locked on the direction your character is facing, unless you're using auto-run, just like now.

Hell, look at 12:30 of that video, he turns the camera BACKWARDS while running towards the camera, this should assuage your fears.
However, further ahead while fighting a bunch of chigoes, he turns on active mode and THEN he backpedals.

So yes, when in passive mode, you can run towards whatever direction you want, and apparently active mode makes you backpedal. What makes sense, actually? Since blocking and parrying both are done only in the direction your're facing and even for a Dragoon it would be good to parry (hell, i've parried Nael on my Dragoon)

And to be sure we're all looking at the same video: http://youtu.be/Pwenut2xit8