This really doesnt help me very much. Unlike a lot of you high rollers, I am a 25K who flies mostly YYC-YYZ 5-6 times a year plus to OGG with the missus on a Comfort fare (which includes free preferred seats) via a Companion pass
and YVR once or twice a year and always in Y. If I want an exit row seat, which I always gladly buy when I book far in advance (and usually a basic fare but sometime Standard) Im not going to roll the dice and wait until checkin
to hope there will be an exit row seat available for free. To me this change is a non issue . Just a view from someone slightly higher up the ladder from a FOTSG.