i'm one of those who Always *tries* to play safe!!! so, i remove pins...I missed one once- my needle hit it, the needle broke, a piece of it flew up & stick right in the center of my glasses...if i had not been wearing glasses i would have had that piece of needle right in my eyeball....now just the thought of not pulling a pin terrifies me...and if i have any one in for classes or just for a sewing day i make sure they understand it does not take any time to slow down & remove pins as you go---once there is an injury it's not fun any more...not to mention all the machine repairs people have had due to throwing off their timing from running over pins...a very costly-dangerous bad habit to get into....and i started sewing way back in 1965 in 4-H...made clothes for 40+ years...we were taught to ALways remove pins...it was not an acceptable action back then either.