As an Australian (only mentioned for timezone clarity) who often does USA red-eyes, I do find it very hard to sleep but any normal traveller out of pure courtesy would get the hint that people are trying to sleep all around and that would be a pretty clear cue not to do the newspaper / bright reading lights / watching movie all night thing. I usually sit back, drink beer and listen to hard rock using earphones.
But then again, more and flights are full of stunned goannas!