Why doe the Exchange French seem so tricky for Black?

Seems like this variation discourages some players from getting involved with the French... I'm no fan of it myself.

There are 2 ways to arrive at the known position-- you can't  avoid it as black if you play 1. ...e6 and 2... d5-- why does this variation give black fits? It's supposed to be a stale, boring way to a draw, supposedly.

It's a bit annoying because the structure and playing style are different from the normal french. It might be drawish at high GM level, but for us mortals there a plenty of ways to get into a fight.

The Exchange French is the one line of the French that most French players never study.  They assume "Easy equality--why bother?"  As a long-time French player, let me say that while it is equal, it is not easy.  True, white doesn't have the big center and black's LSB is free, but a big plus for white in the position is black's attitude.  A lot of black players dismiss white's ability to generate an initiative in this line, but I've played several games in this where play got as complicated and tricky as a Poisoned Pawn Sicilian.  Black must learn that equal does not mean sterile, it just means that both sides have the same chance for the win, so white has just as many chances in playing for the win as black does.  I think that there are more dynamic lines for white in the French, but the Exchange has it's own venom, and black would do well to investigate this opening, or he will find out the hard way that this isn't a "no-brainer" attack.

Well as a lowly class player I can say I face the exchange often. Folks assume that with the open e-file that à whole bunch of exchanges will occur and with the symetrical pawn structure that a draw will be unavoidable. Well this is not often the case. As a French player do I like facing it? Well lets just say that it does take some getting use to actually having to use my light squared bishop for a changé :-D