Not necessarily the case. There are several instances where elites may end up sitting in non-elite section, such as when the missed an earlier flight, when they are taking an earlier flight, when they checked in late, when they make late changes to their flight itinerary, when they wish to sit next to a colleague or family (but bookings made apart), when they forgo a BF or F seat to sit with collegue in Y etc. I suppose they did not fit your elite stereotype maybe, but believe me there is no way you can tell an elite by how they appear or where they sit. Even that they didnt book seats in front does not mean - I have elite friends that do not even ever use the internet for anything flight related. What I would agree though is that they are unlikely to have been members of this board!