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.
and
Hey! That's my ploy! Stop blabbing or everyone will start doing it.
Oi! Hands off!
Whenever I travel LoCo by myself (on average several times a month) that's my ploy too. It's rare that I ever end up below row five and since most LoCos started getting stricter with hand baggage size and number per pax it's even rarer that my laptop bag ends up between my feet as well.
XV