Yes you are correct, but these are Emergency Exit seats only and NOT BOOKABLE if you are elderly or frail, have any medical problem, disabled, obese or under 14 etc. It is not stated what qualifications the cabin crew will have in making a decision to refuse seating for most of these conditions.
Not necessarily, it depends what aircraft you will be flying on. I under stand the likes of Monarch and some of Jet2.com's 757 fleet have a row of seats removed to make way for a 32/33'' seat pitch for the first 4-5 rows at the front to be sold as extra space seats. If its not needed by the charters then it's not needed and as you have said, continue to choose other scheduled carriers. The charters are not going to change any time soon!!!
They have operated in similar ways for over 30 years now beleive it or not so they cant be doing all that wrong.
As for the restrcitions in exit rows you have to be fully fit and abled-bodied and I suppose everyones perceptionof this will be different. However there is a minimum requirement list the ground agents and cabin crew will have to stick to and be able to ask questions on if they are to be seated in these seats. These rules are not all made up by the airline and are part of the CAA and EU-OPS requirements which im sure you will understand.