[offsides]

I run a small tournament (usually 10-12 people +/-; 2 tables, sometimes 3) for my FLGS 3 times a year or so, and I've almost always randomly assigned the tables during the preliminary rounds. The only time I haven't is when there's 2 sets that everyone wants to play and I only have one of each, in which case I'll leave the tables the same for 2 rounds, but switch sets between rounds.

I like randomizing the seating each round because it ensures that if there's any competitive advantage gained by the seating placement for any given player, that advantage is gained through random luck in each round rather than once at the beginning and continuing through the whole thing.

Since it's just an afternoon thing, I do 3 prelim rounds like that, and then take the top 5 or 6 players points-wise for a winner-take-all final table. I think it works well, and since I've got about half a dozen "regulars" who keep coming back (and don't win most of the time!), the players seem to think so too :)