You are right, but about that transfer bar. I have an old Dan Wesson I picked up cheap. Failed to fire once on the range, emptied the cylinder, cocked back the hammer and half the transfer bar fell out. I'm not exactly sure if it is a true transfer bar or a blocking bar, I suspect the later. It fired just fine without it, I never bothered to replace it. I just treat it now like a early revolver.

The technology is basically reliable, but I seldom trust it completely.

The only thing I trust completely is an empty chamber and even then I sometimes check it multiple times. Twice now I've been within feet of somebody who shot themselves and seen numerous negligent discharges that ended better, other than a sphincter clutching moment.

My feeling on the matter is the extra second it takes to jack one into the chamber is offset by the chance of catastrophe being the greater threat IMO. The exception being is when you anticipate a shot, then my finger and my muzzle direction is my safety.

I've been right next to guys, on two occasions, who shot themselves. It is a lot less painful to learn from other peoples mistakes.