Exit Rows
OK I'll admit the extra leg room would have been nice. Nonetheless, as a retired military pilot with experience of large aircraft, I would contend that using the over wing exits could be critical in the event of an emergency aircraft evacuation involving smoke/fire in the cabin.
To describe any emergency exit as self help seems strange to me.
If there was a 2nd cabin crew member they played no part in the cabin services on that flight.
I would have thought that it made sense to have someone seated in the exit rows who was capable of operating the emergency exits even if it involved offering a "free upgrade"