Media volume can be max even if ringtone volume is zero. Also on my phone (Galaxy S7) notifications is a separate volume which isn't controlled by the ringer volume, except that it is muted when you mute the ringer volume. I have started playing really loud things many times in bad situations due to the media volume not muting or reducing when you silence the phone.

Same. I'm at work on the toilet. Someone just called over if I needed assistance.

This was one of my biggest concerns when I tried out the Note 5 for a few weeks. Not being able to quickly and confidently silence my phone with a switch made me paranoid it would be making noises in meetings and such.

That is something I've been googling an answer for. In "alarms only" mode the media volume is still not muted, as one would expect from the name. It seems they forgot to make it so, or forgot to describe that mode as "alarms + media only"...

In recent versions there are three different volume sliders. I'd call them: "Notifications", "Alarms", and "Media".

You have to check all three of these to be sure. I have mine set to only "Alarms" and occasionnally allow "Media" when listening to music or podcasts, but after listening you have to reset "Media" to zero. (I don't have any kind of notifications alerts, sound or vibration)

You could keep a slim headphone jack (no cable, just the bit that goes in) plugged into the socket. Would also stuff it filling with fluff. I do this with my laptop. Obviously won't work on iPhone 7.