I disagree that it's ever just as safe, even when it's properly secured. When impacted, glass will shatter but metal will deform. However, I'm not willing to argue that point any further. I respect your opinion but I don't agree with it.

My deal with these filters is that people tend to just put them in the fuel line and let them sway in the breeze. I've seen quite a few on various cars and they are hardly ever properly secured. Case in point: the one pictured earlier in the thread. It looks like it's being suspended by some rubber fuel line and a couple of hose clamps. This seems to be the way most people mount these things.

In retrospect, my earlier statement is not true. I would put one of those things on my car in the unlikely event that it meant getting home or not. But it wouldn't be on there any longer than necessary.