Having the shades open allows flight crews (and passengers) to see any potential hazards outside of the plane. Statistically, takeoff and landing are the most dangerous periods for air travel, so knowing if something went wrong is a boon to the pilots. Additionally, should the aircraft need to be evacuated, crews can easily see if one side is too dangerous before opening the doors.
I’ve never been on a flight that required them _closed_ during takeoff (and I’ve flown quite a bit). They will often ask they be closed when the plane is at the gate, though – this keeps the aircraft cool without expending too much power ahead of takeoff.
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