I'm the original poster of this question. Many of you have responded that you select seating based on comfort and convenience. I guess my selection of exit row or rows adjacent to exit rows is based on "mental" comfort. We've heard so much during recent days about counting number of rows between you and the closest exit. I figure if it's one row, it's easier to keep up with.

I also am somewhat focused on exit routes in hotels. I lived in a high-rise combination hotel/apartment in Philadelphia that experienced 2 minor fires during my one year stay. I was on 29th floor and learned the value of proximity of exit stairwells.