Hi Low Rider,
Yes, I would buy a jersey with pockets on the front or sides instead of on the back. Of course, it would still depend on the design of the print.
I don’t fully understand your problem with rear pockets. Are you saying that you can’t use the rear pockets, or are you saying that even the extra folds of an empty pocket cause you discomfort? I ride a recumbent, so I don’t use the rear pockets of my jerseys. Although I lay on them, I can’t feel the pockets since I use a thick foam cushion on my seat/backrest. I carry most of my gear in a behind-seat bag (Bachetta), and I have a small Bento box for snacks that I mount in front of me. So, I really don’t use pockets at all. In fact, I still have a Ragbrai tech-T (circa 2007) that has no pockets.
If you want to have your rear pockets removed, you could contact the Kucharik company. I get my chamois-less shorts from them. They have a service for removing chamois from designer shorts, so I imagine they could remove pockets too. Maybe they could take the pockets off the back and put them on the front. You could ask. Good luck!