I’m not sure what you would consider “statistically significant number”, but charges do go off at the pads, sometimes fairly spectacularly. Dinosaurs like both of the Freds and I have seen it happen more times than we like. Many have been captured on video. The thing is that when it does happen at the pad, there’s minimal exposure to anyone other than the flyer. When it happens on the spectator side of the flight line, unwitting bystanders are much more apt to be involved, including children.
Your problem seems to be that if you haven’t personally experienced it it’s not something you consider credible. I have a different philosophy. I feel that it’s part of my job as a Launch Director, RSO, or even just as a Tripoli member to anticipate what could go wrong and do my part to prevent it.
In any case, it’s obvious that we’ll never agree on this issue, so good night.