Originally Posted by Shareholder

All AC has to do is reprogram the auto-select function to infill seats from the back of the cabin to the front rather than the front to back as is now the case. This is the primary reason elites get the empty seat next to them filled most of the time because when the aircraft is released to gate control, the computer automatically assigns open seats from the front. That pretty much renders the supposed Preferred Seating section useless as that's where all the infilling takes place first, and why you can check the middle to rear and find lots of open centre seats if a flight is not full. And OP is correct, AC has had the wherewithal to make such a change but just refuses to and thus gives up a real inflight benefit for its elites.

Maybe a barrage of emails to the president might get the message across...