As to the seating - simple - just board last, hang back have a beer, coffee whatever take it easy. Then get on, spot the empty middle seat in about row 3 usually, go to take it and find out that persons occupying window and aisle are actually flying together and tried to blag extra space. Invariably one moves and you get the aisle near the front. If not - accept middle seat happily and continue reading book.
Hey! That's my ploy! Stop blabbing or everyone will start doing it.
(When travelling alone, I actually prefer the free seating for precisely this reason - on how many other airlines can you be consistently sure of getting something like 2C or 1D without paying for business class or being a platinum frequent flyer?)