Yup, that's pretty scary. I'm pretty short (under 5'6") and on a recent flight I was unable to pick up an item I'd dropped on the floor quite simply because the

Yup, that's pretty scary. I'm pretty short (under 5'6") and on a recent flight I was unable to pick up an item I'd dropped on the floor quite simply because the seat in front of me was too close to permit leaning down far enough even before the person in front of me reclined. Also, I seem to remember that decades ago, when you flew, the instructions used to be that if the aircraft was expected to crash you were supposed to bend over and put your head between your knees for protection during the crash. Did they give that up because it was ineffective advice or because seat pitch no longer permits it?