I never had this before in 9 years. I cant figure out what I did different, even after reading this post. There is no import....

https://forum.solidworks.com/message/512392?q=backwards%20bend%20notes​

I see that I can select the opposing fixed face and the bend note reverses... but I dont understand how I've never had this issue before, and I dont understand why it doesn't need a whole host of warnings to be checked to enable bend notes to conflict with the modeled 3D shape of a part!

You have the finished shape. Bend notes are binary correct or not correct are they not? You should have to deliberately check something to make it do an opposite hand part.
Choosing the fixed face...why would that influence the handing of the part? it doesn't make sense. The system knows the direction of all the bends all the time.