You don't really see more. A 16:9 aspect ratio offers less viewing area than 4:3. It is debatable whether the difference between lateral and vertical fields of view (180 vs 140 degrees) is actually relevant, since the eye's actual focus area is only a fraction of the actual field of view.
Anyway, props to you for a creative solution, lol :D
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Yeah the massive celings and floors are kinda immersive in their own way LOL.
True widescreen games take the existing 4:3 view and add about an inch and a half more viewing area on each side, claiming that is less of a FOV is a little nuts.
The whole corrisponding field of eye view topic is debatable however. Interesing article.