I read that in surveying passengers who hadn't been in an emergency evacuation, about one third of people said they'd try to take at least one bag. In surveyin

I read that in surveying passengers who hadn't been in an emergency evacuation, about one third of people said they'd try to take at least one bag. In surveying passengers who had been involved in an emergency evacuation, about one half actually did. So you're not alone. What I did find interesting though, were the other side effects I hadn't considered. Time taken actually picking up your bag, most people will justify that away to themselves. Clogging up the aisle, most people seem to think that's something other people do. Time wasted arguing with the flight attendant when they try to persuade you that your bag could damage the slide? Where does the inevitable pile of bags go if the flight attendants start winning that argument? One report had that pile formed in front of a cockpit door. Another had that pile form in front of the off-side exit which should have been otherwise usable. (and only one of these points would be addressed by wider aisles!) I do find myself speculating whether the modern atmosphere of everyone knowing better than the experts compounds the issue.