It was only dangerous if you flew for the Green Team.

For me flying sailplanes has been much cheaper. I will never add to the competition seen, but I am having plenty of fun. My Schweizer is worth what I paid for it 15 years ago. The sun would have destroyed three or four hang gliders in the same time period. Tows are less expensive than buying 4X4's and finding a new girl friend every weekend for open distance retrieval.