Sounds like George Costanza at the kid's birthday party.

Seriously, I think the expectation is to get the door open and help if it's not a life or death emergency type situation.
I'm pretty sure if your life is imminent peril (like the plane is on fire and in danger of exploding) they aren't expecting a pax to do anything but get out and run like h*ll, and I'd bet that's what most of us would do. Still, they should make some reasonable effort to put able bodied and willing folks in those seats.