100%

I try and pick those flights that I feel Ill have a better chance that the UP will occur, but I also have in mind that it Wont. thusly I will book a flight where I can grab the Exit Row.

If the UP or Battlefield occurs Great , I got a bonus if not I got Exactly what I paid for a Coach seat. I dont expect the EUA to clear at the 5 day period or much before T-3. if it does Great

As usual if FC is needed then get it by either paying with $$ or Miles if possible. For a free UP just be prepared that if it happens it will happen on Flight date and a few hrs before the Flight. Then when ones EUA passes and you werent UPed no disappointment

I just booked a flight having already requalified for Plat I was hoping to jump Ship but CO had the best timing with the least layover times at a Hub and no MD-80s. Was gonna fly UA but w/o status and having to take 4 bags (2 each) that would have been an extra $260 for both of us for bags alone. So CO it wil be

"downgauged"
you've got to be in plastics or packaging industry ^

I completely agree with this attitude, and try to adopt it myself. It's a little annoying just before boarding when I'm unsure if I'll get the battlefield and I have to decide whether or not to buy some food to bring on board (which I'll want if I don't get the up). But other than that, no big deal really. You still get the upgrade with the proper priority, whether it's at T-5days or T-5minutes.

Frankly, as a plat it's often to my benefit that nobody got an EUA when I change flights using confirmed standby at the last minute, and still get the UP because I jump to the front of the list and nobody has been EUAed into the empty FC seats.

That said, it would be nice if CO could just be honest about this. State up front that there are 3 different classes of FC seats: paid and Y-ups (always available, A inventory), mileage ups (limited availability, F), and EUAs (even more limited available, in practice a subset of F), rather than claiming that EUAs are at equivalent priority to milage ups.

I don't believe this was claimed anywhere. It's actually to the contrary -- mileage upgrades will clear the waitlist/standby list first.

Not the best way to judge... I don't always take an open exit row seat, especially if I have a short connection... I'm a lot more likely to take a bulkhead or somewhere near the front of Y in case my upgrade doesn't clear in that case... I'm sure I'm not the only one who does this.

It is a subtle difference. Miles upgrades and EUA do come from the same fare bucket (F), but there is priority within still within that class.