If you are planning a trip to the US, then you might draw some useful insight on how to obtain inexpensive but decent seats from my website: http://broadwayreviews.googlepages.com Cheers!
I would use www.broadwaybox.com for your discount ticket purchases. They have both Broadway & Off-Broadway discounts and you don't have to waste your precious time standing in line at TKTS. Plus, you get to choose your seats instead of having your seats assigned to you.
Something is stirring,
Shifting ground...
It's just begun.
Edges are blurring
All around,
And yesterday is done.
Broadwaybox definitely sounds like a good alternative. I will have to try it out one of these days. But nothing beats the price (~$25) of student RUSH, especially when you are trying to see several shows in one trip. Maybe if I was on a hot date and needed to preplan, I would pay more and reserve seating.
Generally speaking, for the smaller theatres, which house plays, it doesn't matter where you sit. For some of the Broadway show theatres, it does. But I have never got a bad seat with RUSH.