How to Create Extra Leg Room in Coach

I recently flew from Washington DC to Boston. The flight is short, a little less than an hour. I am about 5'10'' (used to be average) and my legs are long enough that my knees touch the seat in front of me. This happens in almost all cases except for when my bottom is completely against the back of the seat. 

I often put my news paper in the seat pocket in front of me. This takes up even more precious leg room. Since I am too cheap to upgrade to the exit row, even short flights tend to be annoying. Last flight I had an ah-ha moment. I took the magazines out of the seat back pocket in front of me, and threw them in the over head compartment. Just like that I got an extra 1/2 of leg room. I am sure it is against the rules to toss the emergency instructions as well, so I left those in the pocket. I don't know why this did not occur to me before. Ryanair does not even have those stupid pockets any more. More often than not, they hold old tissues, and spent wrappers. In fact, on Ryanair, the saftey instructions are printed on the plastic seatback in front of you. I am not sure why the American carriers have not moved to this yet. I hope they get that but don't decrease the leg room to the same as Ryanair. It has to be the least in the Western world.