I agree. It's more important to ensure that the recovery system deploys during the flight.
I think, though, it is important to keep people away from the rocket as the electronics are turned on. I often see people (including kids) who aren't directly involved hanging around while we are setting up our rockets. I think we need to be careful and do more about controlling that.
I had the ejection charges go off on the pad when I was setting up a 12-foot rocket. As I disconnected the altimeter after it beeped out the wrong number of connections, the main charge fired and the nosecone shot a few feet in the air. It fell between the two people helping me set up the rocket. It had a couple of pounds of weight in it, so it could have caused a serious injury if it had hit them or me. A second later, the apogee charge blew separating the main part of the rocket and covering me with black soot. I was standing atop a six-foot ladder while all this happened. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
Now, I ask everyone else to step away as I arm the altimeter.
-- Roger
No doubt. This is a key point. You need good range security /safety.