Those who adhere to expedition style climbing would not think that a "well-equipped" alpine style climber is in fact "well-equipped". That's simply a difference of opinion.

I have friends who don't feel safe in anything smaller than a full size SUV. Does that make a mid-size sedan unsafe? Does "safe" mean it performs better in a accident or it has emergency handling capabilities that let it avoid (or lessen) the accident?

Opinions vary as do acceptable levels of risk.
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"There is not a man of us who does not at times need a helping hand to be stretched out to him, and then shame upon him who will not stretch out the helping hand to his brother." -Theodore Roosevelt