J,
This is probably your best option. Im one of those that cant stand to have a seat in the front. In almost 30 years of boat ownership, ive used one maybe 15 times. I would rather fall out than bump into that stupid thing trying to move around and fish. I lose balance at times, but to me its worth the free space.
With age tho comes more/better reasons to have that up there im sure, but currently im not that out of shape, or at that age that i need it.
How are you liking that Tracker so far? Cool that they went old school.