The situation you describe is essentially the reason I quit flying KLM forever. My last paid flight was in June, and since then I have only flown KL on FlyingBlue award tickets.

It's sad when even as a non-elite traveller, I can pick exit rows on BA, Finnair, and others, yet KL makes me (as a gold member) pay, and then have to deal with situations like this (or families who are separated all trying to switch seats with me).

I have to say that my transition to other carriers has gone quite well.