Frequently, I've sewn sans presser foot over my close to 60 years of sewing. It's no more dangerous than chopping vegetables with a chef's knife. You just do it. Love to do free motion with that way. Also much easier to hem jeans, you can sew right up to the seam, tack it, up on the lever, over the seam, down with the lever, tack it and on you go.
I've only sewn myself to the machine (literally) once. that was trying to push jeans as far as I could to the seam. Oh, but forgot to tell you, I was using the presser foot. Since the machine was a 1928 Singer (that had been motorized), I had to rock the wheel back and forth reaching across with my left hand as the right index finger was attached, under the needle. I did it without passing out and from then on, no presser foot while doing jeans.
I usually applique with just a needle, so much easier and faster. I'm not too chicken at trying anything with sewing except for the rotary cutter, WE have never bonded!