Shortie,
I think you may need and therefore want 'this' stuff in your vehicle, eventually. It's all part of a tool kit for vehicle recovery. Successful and safe recovery is about using the right tool for the right job in the right way. In order to do that takes some practical experience and some theoretical understanding of the physics (mechanics) involved. To some extent Tank's post is very helpful in respect to the latter.
My personal opinion is that a snatch strap is dangerous in the same way that fire arms, sharp objects and fire are - don't trust them to children to the ignorant (unless supervised) or idiots (under any circumstance).
My personal experience is that a snatch strap, when used in a controlled manner, can be a quick and effective way to recover a vehicle and maintain progress. Similarly, experience has also shown me that uncontrolled (poorly thought through and executed / inappropriate) use of a snatch strap is extremely dangerous.
Part of safely using this type of equipment is acquiring what you need, you have taken a good step asking about what you don't know and you now know a bit more. Another important part is maintaining it and knowing its history / capabilities - if your going to use a snatch and shackles let them be quality ones that you know the history and capabilities of (the number of times I have declined to use other peoples!). Finally, don't let the first time you use one be when you 'need' to use it - that's a recipe for disaster. Get some training and experience first.
Training you can get in a number of ways, but don't let your self be scared by others into not doing anything and therefore being ignorant. To put this in perspective. I have a rock climbing / mountaineering background and like most am almost entirely self trained in that respect. 4WD ing is like any adventure pursuit, although statistically much safer than many, you learn what works and what doesn't best doing it, through experience. In order to do it in the first place you want to educate yourself as to the inherent risks as best you can and have a base level of equipment and knowledge. People, books, experience it all counts.
Tank I know to be a professionally trained rigger and I've learnt a thing or two from his posts in the past (you'd do we'll to look up some of his previous posts) but I view the whole thing slightly differently. I would doubt that there would be a single piece of my climbing equipment that would be legal in the rigging industry, but none of it is inherently unsafe. It's how it's used that makes it safe or unsafe. It is entirely down to the skill of the operator how safe it is. In undertaking an activity that is inherently unsafe the operator must decide what is at stake and balance that against the level of risk they are prepared to accept under the circumstance. In making that judgement knowledge is key.
The problem with 4WD equipment is not a marketing problem but, as see it, more a problem with the consumer, their level of ignorance and their reticence to educate themselves. The information provided about the product is not necessarily marketing it is just information, knowing what it means and how to use the information is entirely the responsibility of the user. The trouble with 4WD ing is that a vast majority of people seem to not appreciate the risks involved. I think it's to do with the proximity of familiar things, like a comfortable vehicle, making it hard for people to realise that they are out of their natural comfort zone / realm of experience, people just fail to switch on.
Do the theory, cross check your sources, get some practical experience and steer clear of idiots you'll be fine. Oh and if you don't carry a shovel then your an idiot.
Ian.
