I am posting this here in case there is a logical/practical explanation that I haven't thought of. Today as I was unlocking my bike at the university I noticed a cheap mtb beside it with the fork facing backwards. The stem was facing the right way. The cable leading to from the hanger down to the canti brakes was sort of twisted around the side of the stem. I am totally at a loss. Maybe someone wanted like a foot of trail or something. Wish I'd had a camera..