Something that may already have been touched on since the advent of the "pay for extra legroom" era, but I think it's a fair point: Is an aircraft taking off with no one at all in the exit rows a violation of FAA rules?

Was pondering this question while seeing a completely empty 2 exit rows on an A319 from ORD-CLE. All 10 seats were empty (2 seats are removed in row 11). The normal part of E+ was about 2/3 full, and E- was completely full.

If it is not a violation, what do the FA's plan to do in case of an emergency landing? Take volunteers while the plane is going down? I'd think they'd have bigger fish to fry at that point.