I've flown 106,000 miles on CO this year.

Today, on a flight from LAS to CLE, on taxiing at LAS, the FA announced to the first class cabin that we COULD NOT have headphones on for taxi or takeoff, even with noise cancellation turned off. He went to every row and insisted that all earphone / headphones were removed.

Every CO flight (except this one) I've ever been on with DirectTV has allowed headphones during taxi and takeoff.

My outbound flight on Tuesday's 6:45pm EWR-LAS flight didn't offer pre-taxi beverage, and dinner service was not served with white/red wine. I had to ask for red wine to be served with dinner.

I know it sounds like I'm complaining about trivial things, but in a system-oriented industry with strict rules and regulations, why are so many flights operated with a different set of rules?