The EE seat costs money to ASR, elites often prefer to sit in the first few rows on Y instead of the EE.
I don't like those seat because you have a rigid armrest with a flimsy rickety tray table and no where to stow your stuff except overhead. In the front few rows I get the seat next to me blocked and can use it to pile up all the things I need or keep my carryon under the seat in front of the blocked seat. Because when you board last the oh bin space is usually taken. Also over the EE, so you end up hunting for space.