ICE train ride from Munich to Berlin and seat reservation

The ICE train (InterCity Express) is a high-speed train that connects all major cities in Germany. I read that it is one of the fastest ways to travel between cities in Germany.
I imagined it to be a Shinkansen-kind-of speed. Shinkansen’s maximum operating speed is 320 km/h vs ICE at 300km/h.



ZE got a free ride (again!), whilst I paid €45.00 for my ticket. We also forked out additional €4.50 per pax for seat reservation.
I read in forums that seat reservation is recommended, especially for ‘long’ train ride. My take on seat reservation:
Recommended:
- If you are the type that must be seated together with your traveling partner;
- If your travel journey is more than three hours. There were standing passengers, so I think German train is ‘overbooked’; not enough seats for passengers;
- If you do not travel from origin station. The further away you are from origin station, the chances of securing seats will reduce accordingly
Skip It:
- If you travel solo
- If you like to mingle with locals