Met up with friends over weekend where we all flew in and they found that the new seating plan was in operation with kids spread across the aircraft where previously put together even checking late.
However they did check 4 days out and fares were low and it appeared there were 70 plus seats unallocated so they gambled there would be spare rows and it worked. Maybe not do so again which is really what Ryanair want people to do.
There is the option at checkin to pay to have everybody seated together.
Travelling solo at weekends I haveon quite a few occasions got an exit row seat for nowt.