I'll admit to some fond memories of flying on DC-9s, mostly since some of my early solo flights as a teenager were on TW or AL DC-9s in the late 60s. My last DC-9 flight was back in the NW days flying DTW-PVD (all mainline with DC-9s, 319s, and 320s then, all regional jet and mostly CR2s now). Yes, row 5 has the best seats on the plane - the most legroom and although lacking a bit in width, since I was traveling with my partner that didn't matter too much

I live roughly 20 miles out from DTW, but right under the approach for flights from the west heading towards the 22 runways, and when I'm outside in the summer I can always tell when it's a DC-9 overhead. Even at the altitude the planes are maintaining this far out those puppies are the noisiest things in the sky. I'll miss them, but every plane has its day.