Imagine how many laptops, bluetooth speakers, tablets, and other devices are dinging "the waves" for wireless of all kinds from beneath seats and in overhead bins. Peer-to-peer, speakers, wifi, cell, ....

I just realized I have never disabled cell access on my watch.

It isn't clear to me why airplane mode is requested on airplanes. It doesn't reinforce crew control, it reinforces complete lack of crew control, i.e. crew control theatre.