I had a pair of Sony NC-10s and LOVED them. But then left them on a flight. I replaced them with Sony NC-11s which I did not like as much. I recently accidentally left them on a FRA-IAD flight. I think it might have been passive aggression.
Anyway, a very good friend gave me his old pair of NC-10s on Sunday and I used 'em on a couple of flights yesterday and they are as wonderful as I remember!!!! ^ ^
The only problem with earbuds vs. bulky, unwieldy headphoes is that they are so small that one might tend to leave them on airplanes