I do understand why some feel that restraints are not necessary on this ride; and I competely agree that when dumb people do dumb things and get hurt that they should be held accountable for their own actions...
but the last time I rode this ride I witnessed some really dangerous behavior...
We broke down and sat for at least 15 minutes (probably longer) while the CM on the intercom assured us that someone would be there "in just a few minutes"..."momentarily".... "soon", etc. After about 10 minutes a few "loud" adults decided to take matters into their own hands and stepped out of their boats --- yes, the free floating boats that could begin moving again at any moment -- then they proceeded to walk through, over, and around the scenery to find an exit.... I watched them use doorways marked "CM only" and then reappear when the exit didn't seem to take them where they wanted to go (mind you we were at the top portion of the mountain .... not too far from the exit to the big drop....
well, wouldn't you know it -- a few minutes later some parents decided that they were sick of listening to their kids whine, so they sent the kids out of the boat and told them to follow the other people and walk out... there was eventually a large number of people wandering all over the place when some frantic CM's (manager types) arrived and herded everyone out the proper exits.
I don't know how Disney or anyone else can conquer the "dumb factor", but in this case people needed to be protected from themselves (some crossed over the water a few times trying to find an exit - stepping in and out of boats).
Thanks for giving me a place to vent about this.... it's been bugging me ever since it happened.