Originally Posted by
Koby
On the contrary, I have the impression that seat blocking works better if I don't touch the seat assignment (at least before my recent problems). That is another reason why I prefer not to choose the seat after booking, but I did not want to mention it here because it's basically, well, a myth, right?

I tend to agree. Too many times I have moved myself out of a seat which appears to have the adjacent one occupied and into one which appears to have the adjacent one free.
What normally then happens is that I have someone sitting next to me on the flight and the seat I originally had is occupied with nobody sitting next to them.
What the Americans call a 'crap shoot' I believe.....