What do you think about this, ok, I'm lucky to have PTO time, I understand it is not required by law. But it is fair/legal/right for a company to make unexempt employees to use 5 days of PTO before disability kicks in, and exempt(salary) folks to use 3 days of PTO...then disability? I'm probably going to be off work for 4 weeks or so for my surgery.

"Legal", yes. "Fair" or "right" is subjective and your opinion on this is at least as good as mine.

Agree, legal. They do not have to treat all classes of employees the same. Unfair - possibly.