New Eurostar configurations
 

Eurostar trains (Paris-London, Brussels-London) are sporting new configurations between July 17 and Aug 31st have eliminated First Premium Class seating, reduced 1st class seating by 50% and correspondingly increased 2nd class seating 50% - all due to slack first class demand in summer - lucky those 2nd class ticket holders now sitting in much roomier first class seats - no meals however as in first class.

I can confirm that. My sister went to London from Lille a couple of weeks ago and with a youth 2nd class ticket (70€ return), she got 1st class seats.

seems as though Eurostar could make a few extra euros by having a 'premium second class' fare in these converted first-class cars - i'd pay a few euro extra for much more leg room - i've always found standard class Eurostar seats to be more cramped than other European trains.

Actually, they haven't eliminated the premium class entirely. Starting September 1, there will be Business Premier, Leisure Select and Standard classes (according to the letter we received from Eurostar's carte blanche program).
Business Premier guarantees power outlets for all seats, among other services. Leisure Select is first class without the guarantee of power outlets, etc. It's also where they're more likely to put families traveling in first. Meal service in Leisure Select will be essentially the same as in Business Premier.
Eurostar is making some other changes--liking making it easier for carte blanche holders to gain points for free tickets/upgrades/services.

One other change--because of the differences in first class seating now (i.e., business premier and leisure select), Eurostar will enforce the seating assignments a little more strictly. It used to be, for example, if you were a first class ticket holder and you wanted to move to a different first class car, they didn't make too much fuss about it. Now, they are going to try and keep people in the car they're assigned to (seat changes within the same car are still ok if no one else has the seat you'd like).
Anyway, that's what the Eurostar attendant in first class told my husband earlier this evening.