Originally Posted by
mathemagic
I don't think this is any different than a non-SE customer choosing and paying for a preferred seat when they book, which may or may not be available. Either way that's the deal when you pay for your ticket. It's just that with SE you've paid enough already that we're back to square one.
The difference is in one case you where you pay cash fro a specific seat, if you don't get the seat the charges should be reversed.