I'm on the flight to LIH right now in row 17 (using a WiFi credit from the new Atmos card).

Row 17 is bad. It's sort of an exit row, but only in the sense that row 16 can't recline into you. It has very little legroom - it's not at all the same seat pitch as 16 and 18. B (and E) have the fixed bulkhead armrests (not sure what to call these - they're the ones like row 6, but I'm not sure why since the traytable in the seat in front is available.). I think I'd choose the middle seat in 16 or 18 over either of the two seats in 17 - the big draw for the extra room in exit rows for me is being able to use my laptop, and 17 is too cramped to make it work well.

I'm Silver so I didn't have to pay for exit row. If I had paid extra for an exit row, expecting the normal AS exit row experience, I'd be very unhappy.