I've seen a marked decline in flight attendants' interest in portable electronic device compliance. I know it's the law, but I can see why the flight attendants just don't want to bother anymore. It's a tough fight. And I see them using their phones all the time, and I'm sure they're not in "airplane mode." Passengers see this, we all know it know makes no sense, so there isn't a rationale other than "The FAA says so," "It's a federal offense," etc.

I posted elsewhere about a woman using a massive, 17-inch laptop during short final on an extremely turbulent flight. That's profoundly stupid. I also got angry with a Pinnacle Airlines CRJ flight attendant who was so busy talking on her phone that she skipped the safety demo and compliance checks. If you're too busy having a personal conversation on your phone to verify that everyone is wearing a seatbelt (15 seconds at most--she could have talked on her phone AND conducted the safety check simultaneously)... you're in the wrong job.

One could argue that iPads are heavier and capable of inflicting more damage in turbulence. But far more people have secreted heavy purses, canes, duty free liquor, and other heavy objects on their laps or at their sides. I sometimes think I'm the only bulkhead passenger in the world to use the overhead bin for all of my luggage (I usually check my bag.)

But it's not worth arguing over a Kindle or noise-canceling headsets. I can't imagine anyone dying from a Kindle or a set of Bose headphones. I'm much more concerned about an unfastened seatbelt, or a concussion from ridiculously heavy bags in overhead bins.

Yes, I'd much prefer that passengers watched the safety video (one rationale for barring noise canceling headsets.) But I have to say that I can recite it word-for-word in English, Spanish, and German. I still don't wear headsets out of respect for the law and the crew, but it's not really doing much for my own safety.

The other night, I watched a Pavlovian reaction in the cabin when the chimes rang after takeoff. Everyone flipped open the Kindles, iPads, and laptops (that had been on their laps, and definitely not switched off.) It's kind of fun to watch that reflex among frequent flyers. It was a relief for me, because all 300 channels of DirectTV seemed to have something unwatchable.

Although the FAA has been asked to conduct new research, I think the regulation will fall apart because nobody will pay attention anymore.

Look around... how many times have you noticed that the person next to you has a reclined seat or elevated headrest during takeoff and landing? How many people don't bother with the shoulder harness in Global First? It seems to happen on every flight. The risk is so hard to figure out... even at 31-inch pitch in economy class, it's hard to fathom that another inch or two would impede your egress from the airplane in an emergency. You could just slam the seat forward.