We used to lie across the rows to sleep when we were taking the redeye from California to New York. Worked much better for my short friend. My head always hung out into the aisle.

The way modern airlines price tickets, however, have removed much of the benefit of this. To get the cheapest ticket, you allow the airline to seat you, and they seat you in center seats at the back. It costs more to get an aisle/window, and it costs even more to get an exit row.