MX,

Flying _is_ risky--the numbers prove it.

That is definitely a landmine waiting to be stepped on.....
I'm going to have to agree with Judah- many things are risky.

I haven't the money or time to fly. The medical requirements are
(unnecessarily) strict. Given all this, the obstacles to flying are
simply too high to make it a consideration. Perhaps if they didn't
exist, I might be more willing to try it out.

They aren't obstacles- IT IS A LOT OF WORK to be a safe pilot.
I'm curious which parts you find to be unnecessary? Flying has inherent
risks, but I wouldn't say it is risky. Very few serious accidents are a
result of airplane mechanical problems, meaning that training and
decision making skills are as crucial as a working airplane. It's more
often the pilot than flying that can be called risky, I think most
pilots are competent safe people. True, there are dumb ones too....
Let me ask you this- would you let a friend who was a pilot take you up
in a small airplane?