Buster, you wrote:
As I often sit in the overwing exit, due my height, I'm only ever asked if I'm willing and able to assist the crew by operating the door over the wing. Would a PAX in row 1 be asked the same question?
I am unsure about QANTAS, but when sitting in 1A on a DJ flight, yes you are indeed asked that question.
I am also one that manages to be allocated the exit rows, occassionally we ask for them, more often than not they look at my husbands' ASIC which is produced as ID, and we are given the exit row, quick-smart.