Well I called Delta and the (very empathetic) agent unblocked Row 20 C,D (last row) and put us there ... you win some ... you dim some! Yes it's a short flight and no harm in sitting apart from one another, but because I'm a big guy I only fly economy when I'm with a family member ... so while I feel it is perfectly OK to squash my family members ... I find it kind of rude to do it to strangers.

Last row ... here I come!

PS- Agent first didn't know how/why this reassignment happened but self-offered a vague explanation at the end ... 'aircraft change' ... I don't know that much about Delta but I think they only fly one kind of 175 ! I could be wrong, I guess.