That is one way of spinning it. However, given that KL allows seat reservation from 330* days out, unlike other airlines which only allow a free selection once OLCI happens, the OP's problem really only arises for last-minute bookings on busy flights, or when you inexplicably (mistakenly in the case of the OP, it seems, who appears to think all advance seat selections require payment) don't bother to make a seat selection at the time of booking but instead wait til OLcI has opened.

Always better to do things early than at the last minute. KLM facilitates this.

*or whatever number of days it is that KL opens flight sales on their website