I must say, having had to change my flight and fly home in a NEO in row 3 last night (as opposed to row 1 which I can normally get) I felt pretty boxed in! I wish I had downgraded to an exit seat.
FYI the armrest can be raised with the middle table in situ, widening the seat by a couple of inches. The table feels a bit wobbly but it is in no way supported by the armrest. I've worked out its removal on the NEOs must be to do with the seat power supply, which takes up much of the under-seat legroom where the convertible table lives when not up.