Remodeling the basement..

[S-F]

A valid point. Yet. The egress code for windows in a basement is to allow a fireman with a tank on his back in. This is only necessary in rooms with a closet (a bedroom). Cutting a foundation away to make way for a bigger window is a PITA. You probably have to dig and then you have a window below grade, which sucks. If you ignore code, as I did with my basement, it does make sense to have a lot of ways out. Here we have a very available stair case going up right to the main door and an easily accessible bulkhead door. If my daughter can't get to either of those with the open floor plan of my basement she's lost already.