the benefits of free seating is a myth nurtured in the offices where beans are counted. Them behind the desks think that it forces people to the checkin and gate early. From this point of view they are probably right. This however, doesn't necessarily ensure the aircraft completes an optimum turnaround. What it does do is p*ss off the people who are most likely to pay more for their seats aka businessmen. There will always be two sides to this argument but if you watch the antics of the average passenger when they board their free-seated aircraft it would seem to unwind any of the advantage gained in the terminal.