Table Selection: How do you decide?

Normally when I open PS I just take a quick scan through the list of tables (10NL currently) and just look at the stats and sit down.

I'm wondering though if this is a good idea. I've read so many times that table selection can be up to 80% of what makes you a winning player.

Does everyone just pick a table somewhat randomly like this, play for a bit then, then decide to stay or leave. Or should I be spectating tables first before I even decide to sit down?

Well at 10 NL every table is going to be pretty reckless, but at higher limits table selection is a good skill to have. It's not just the table selection, it's more table adaption. If the table is loose you have to sit back and wait for a hand, and if the table is tight you can exploit it through late position aggressiveness and solid positional LAG poker.

I look for tables with the highest %players seeing flop and highest pot size. Also i like at least 7 players at the table.
I would rather have a table where both stats are quite high than 1 very high and 1 tiny.
After i get a place at a table i just sit down. I usually recognise a few of the players so i just post the newbie blind and play. If i dont ill wait till the blind gets to me so i can see who is in all the pots and who is raising them all.
I dont bother observing a table before i sit down for more than a couple of seconds but i dont start blind stealing or playing hands like KJ until ive been there for a few orbits until ive started to learn what the players are like.
I mostly just camp sets, AA, KK, QQ, JJ and AK, AQ AJs until i know the players