You're right -- an empty seat map a month in advance doesn't mean much. And, yes, United seem to be getting better at increasing their profits.
Maybe they sell every Biz seat for 5k - 7k. Or maybe there are some days that the P fares emerge and get snapped up.
I feel like i need a bot to constantly check fares so I may travel in the manner to which I've grown accustomed (LOL) .. it's my only hope!
SFO-ORD-NYC actually can work. There is a wide body jet that has flat beds from SFO-ORD (not as nice as the 1-2-1 config or the 1-1-1), then ORD-NYC is pretty short, but given the increased probability of delays, Jet Blue, or Alaskan (not flat-bed, but the worst of domestic First Class seating) is likely the answer.
Too bad about all those UAL miles I've flown, and all those years of 1K.
And, I say again, please please don't let a JetBlue / United merger happen. I wish the Continental / United merger hadn't happened either ... but unchecked capitalism tends quickly toward monopoly.

Thank you!