Regarding standby tickets, it probably doesn't break the new rules if the airline bumps you to an earlier flight.
This happened to me once. I got to the airport very early and when I was checking in my bags, the airline asked me if me and my friend wanted the earlier flight which was boarding in 15 minutes. Apparently, some passengers where a no show. We were not charged anything for it. And it makes sense because the airline could still sell our seats in the later flight.