I know the parent post was half-joking, in case I sound too serious, but most people assume that the only reason to escape out the window is fire.
Anyone familiar with the Northridge or other big quake correct me, but I've read that in many apartment buildings, stairways are one of the structurally weakest parts of the building. I'm talking about the flimsy stairs that are "open" to the outside world, not something like a concrete fire stairwell in the interior of a building. If the stairs go, then a window might be your only way out--and back INTO your apartment. And to get back in, I would prefer an escape ladder to a rope (well, actually, I'd prefer an elevator back up to Bee's fourth floor apartment, but that's just me... <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )