I've actually found the sales promo talk to be far less prevalent on recent flights I've taken with FR and not too annoying. Also, I think the English language capability of staff is pretty good and I have found most continental Europeans working for FR much friendlier than UK / Irish staff and perfectly adequate. But it's right that this seating change is something that makes you go back to think twice about booking a FR flight, whereas since the "getting better" initiative started I wouldn't hesitate to fly them