@Ubiquitin
No one has to stand while my paid for eat sits empty awaiting my arrival.
The nature of small town shuls is that they were built to accommodate the baby boom of the 50s and 60s (as well as white flight) and have far more seats than members to fill them.
As I have posted before, there are signs in our shul’s lobby informing guests to ask an usher or gabbai for a place to sit and that seats with name plates are not to be used by guests.
I have also posted that if I know I will not be in attendance I inform the gabbai in advance and tell him he may let others use my seat