I can dig your reticence. If you are not comfortable with it, you have no business pushing yourself into it. I feel comfortable with it (with chains), some feel more comfortable with it so much so they don't use safety stuff. It all boils down to your comfort level with the task at hand. I trust the mechanics of the operation, just not so much so the state of repair some wheels may be in. Rusted/pitted /worn rings or cans - I recommend caution, especially to a guy I know nothing about or materials I have not inspected.

True - the design of the system is such that when the ring is seated and the bead is seated thereto - all is secure.

It's like the old question of "I'm putting a late-model engine in my XXX. Should I keep the fuel injection or slap on a carburetor?" Well, thos guys that are knowledgable and confident with their skills around EFI would think it daft to go "old-school" with a carburetor - they'd love the benefits of EFI - BUT there's ALWAYS gonna be a guy without a clue of how EFI works, and would forever be "rasslin" with it - for those guys, a carburetor makes more sense. Same thing with these wheels - those guys that are "down wid 'em" can mount 'em all day. The first time a guy with any level of doubt in his mind attacks one - disaster may soon follow. In both cases, you need to know how each system works and be comfortable with it for a successful day.

I will not say that the split-ring system is foolprooof and totally safe.