umm, i dont think your wrong because i always request seats ... but its not a confirmed seat until your check-in. my travel agent always calls up the SQ and asks them to book my seat position and then SQ explains how its not your seat untill you check in, otherwise if someone ahead in the check-in line wants your seat, they get it. thats why i wanted to see the maps...even if its not confirmed, they have to put you on a seat somewhere and it would be good to know how many people there will be that may want your seat at check-in.

anyway, that how i think it works.