I can also understand why en exit row occupant would not be allowed to wear headphones during takeoff/landing, but the in-flight magazine says that noise-canceling headsets are allowed in all phases of flight. So the headphones are now an item that are not allowed in the seat pocket but are allowed to be on our ears during takeoff?

Pax are already annoyed enough with the TSA for massive cultural inconsistency, so we're hypersensitive to FAA and flight crew inconsistency. Don't take it personally, but it's the FT mission to overanalyze every little detail.

Paperback books? Mine goes behind my back for takeoff. Good lumbar support.