I've met (at a do) CO personnel whose lifelong mission, taken very seriously, is to keep us from splattering all over a tarmac someday. As rare as these events are, we owe these folks an immense debt of gratitude for keeping their focus on preventing the possibility.

It doesn't matter one twit whether keeping exit row windows open for takeoff or landing is FAA policy, CO policy, or not a policy. It makes good common sense. It is completely obvious, once one thinks about it in any light besides one's selfish needs.

Anyone who isn't willing to make the safety of the entire cabin an absolute priority over their personal whims doesn't belong in the exit row, period.

There's a conflict of interest here, using the exit row as premium real estate for golds and plats. I invariably sit in 14C on 737 transcons, and some of my fellow plats show a greater contempt for every minor rule than more typical passengers. Laptop back on a minute after takeoff, well before the "ding", cell phone on till the moment of takeoff, that sort of thing.

I am dismayed that anyone in an exit row would ask "Do I have to?" to any suggestion potentially affecting safety.