I was on the jet2 757 from Glasgow last Tuesday, sat in row 34, the row behind the over wing exits. The cabin steward certainly gave all the passengers sat in the exit seats very clear instructions of their role in an emergency and he then made sure there was no baggage on the floor in that area - in fact he had to make it crystal clear to one woman who wanted her handbag with her. There was no sales patter until after airborne and the seat belt signs were switched off. Only problem on our flight was a 'missing' passenger and a goosed apu.
Out of interest, how far is the drop from the flaps on a 737 to the deck?