Chuo Line Ltd Exp new reservation system

Hi!
So I just saw an ad about a new reservation system on Chuo Line Ltd Exp trains that started March 19th.

Can someone who knows / already used the system tell me if I understood that correctly?

- No more "unreserved" cars on Ltd Exp, every seat can be reserved in advance
- Paying the Ltd Exp fare in advance is cheaper than on the train (is that a first in Japan?)
- if you don't have a seat reservation you need to look at the colors over the seats: Green = currently reserved; Red = vacant; Yellow = vacant but will be reserved soon (at the next stop?)
- I think the seat reservation itself is included in the ltd exp surcharge?
- So in summary you should always reserve your seat if you don't want to check "your" light at every stop and risk to have to change seats

Did I get that right? And is that for all ltd. Exp trains on the Chuo Line?
A bit complicated...

No not all cars. Reserved car only. On the new E353 trains.

System is very similar as the green cars on the Shonan-Shinjuku and Ueno-Tokyo Lines.

Read about those seat lights for Limited Express Fuji Excursion as it an all reserved train
https://www.jreast.co.jp/hachioji/fuji_excursion/en/index.html

If you can read Japanese well, this official PDF of JR-EAST(press release) is "better".
https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2018/20181019.pdf
This "better" means no mentioned about foreign tourist usage such as "Japan Rail Pass" and more.

Same new reservation system already started at
LtdExp HITACHI,TOKIWA of JR Joban line(Shinagwa - Tokyo - Ueno - Mito - Iwaki) fr mid MAR 2015.
https://www.jreast.co.jp/hitachi_tokiwa/howtouse/index.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitachi_(Japanese_train)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokiwa_(train)
This is because the old vehicle has been retired and only a new "E657" series.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E657_series

Shonan-Shinjuku, Ueno-Tokyo and more line commuter train's "Green" have not reserved seat,
so no "Yellow" sign, also fare table and ticketing system is different.
https://www.jreast.co.jp/railway/train/green/
https://www.jreast.co.jp/railway/train/green/charge/
Especially, in E353 and E657 car, you can not use IC(Suica,PASMO and) instead,
but you can use IC(except mobile-Suica and Apple Watch) at ticket vending machine
for this reserved and unreserved(zaseki mishitei) seat ticket as payment.

Oops, forgot...

This is not important, but system started fr 16th, last SAT, not 19th.

The changes/promotion are for things like the Azusa and Kaiji rather than the usual commuter trains. JREast are trying to get people to use the empty seats on the trains (mornings and evenings in particular), and reservations can even be made on the platforms (or at the ticket machines in the station).

That might or might not suit how you want to use the services if you are heading to Kofu/Matsumoto/Otsuki.

Thank you very much for your answers!

I am often using the Green Car reservation system on the Tokkaido line (and others) but this new system is different and you cleared up a lot of my confusion - now I know how this system is intended.
Again, thank you!