If the FAA's rule makes a lot of sense to you, then ONLY fly on routes where it or the local authority's equivalent rule applies.

I can't believe it applies where you just were.

Heck, I was on a Russian wet-lease 727-clone in India in the 70's. Baggage was allowed to be on the floor in the bulkhead and exit rows. The emergency escape mechanism was a rope ladder. The overhead luggage bins were just shelves with no doors. They had to keep passengers on the front of the plane while the rear half exited from airstairs so the plane wouldn't tilt back on the landing gear, the engines were so heavy. I survived. You manage your risks.