Doing it once while drunk is no big deal, but there are exhibitionists and such who will keep doing it over and over. It's one of those things where something seems harmless enough, but there's always That Guy who is going to take it to extremes. So I think the laws are motivated by a handful of recidivist offenders and catch a lot of non-recidivist drunks in the dragnet.

We also have a problem with media / media consumer biases: the media tends to sensationalize these crimes, and outraged voters always think punishments are too light.

To put some ideological points up for consideration: from (some) feminists, exhibitionism (like other forms of sexual assault) is used by men to assert power over women and from (some) men's rights activists, the laws are harsh and broad due to pervasive discrimination against male sexuality.

A good lawyer should have been able to negotiate it down to a misdemeanor anyway as long as there was no physical contact with the victim (which then gets into sexual assault territory, something that is unlikely to get leniency)

It really sucks for the OP, but I feel like he was massively screwed during trial & the legal process

It is a misdemeanor, but a second offense turns it into a felony automatically. My lawyer could not get it back down to a misdemeanor. I am utterly and completely screwed.

Exposing yourself to a child is a very serious crime... I get the impression that OP is minimizing by saying "flashing someone (while drunk) who was just under 17 years old"...

The USA has a pretty complicated relationship with sexuality.

You don't know the details.

I don't think I can imagine a situation where exposing yourself in public merits 7 months in jail and permanently making it almost impossible to find employment.