Maybe they keep it the way it is for people who need more room but are not capable of sitting in an exit row. Like someone mentioned the bassinet thing earlier or someone might be disabled and they need more room to get into their seats.

I've had to think about this a bit, and maybe I need to break out the tape measure to check if I have time on a plane. The floor space between a bulkhead row and a regular seat is about the same; just looks different because thre is no seat assembly overhanging the floor space at the bulkhead.

Depends on the plane - some you are right up close against the wall, not much more room - others I can (after seat belt sign is off) use my rollaboard as a footrest and still not be able to touch the wall with my feet.

I see what you mean a bit.. if you stretch your legs out under the seat.. the space to front foot rest of the passenger in front of you would be the same as if it was a bulkhead wall?

I could be imagining things.. but I still think that the bulkhead row may have more room.. but maybe because the first class cabin column transistions to the Y cabin..

On airlines such as VX, the bulkhead seats are called Main Cabin Select. These seats have more legroom. The bulkhead wall contains slide out tables, IFE screens and a trough the width of the bulkhead wall, which contains the safety cards, the earphones and inflight amenity cards. These seats are upgraded seats, better than premium economy not just because of extra legroom, but because of other amenities that come standard with the upgraded fare.

1) Not all bulkhead seats have extra legroom. Some actually have less.
2) The distance from the seat to the bulkhead is not the issue, since exit rows have long distances to the seats in front of them and the tray tables simply have extra long arms.
3) The issue is the structure of the bulkhead itself. Many are relatively thin walls and installing trays that fold into them would not be possible, often because there is not enough thickness for them to fit or because the trays would need a totally different design to be bolted to the outside of the bulkhead wall and would not have the same strength as those that fit into a seat back.

Bulkhead seats remains a nice choice.. obviously take advantage of it if it is available..

If the leg room is the same.. at least there is a lot more knee room.. Seems like the non fold up armrest isn't an issue neither for most who select bulkhead..

You obviously have not flown VX Main Cabin Select yet.... :D