Exit row seats are highly preferred. However, it comes with responsibilities. You need to be able to perform specific duties in case of emergency. This is the exact reason why the flight attendants want you say "YES" clearly after they finish with their special instructions.

Next time you want to sit in exit row, it may be comfortable, however, you are expected to follow certain rules for the safety of other passengers. Else, you might want to find yourself another seat where you can sleep, relax and put on your headphones to filter the noise.

What kind of people fly these days who cannot understand that the flight attendants are not out there to "get" a single passenger?