I agree about the importance of keeping crypto secure, but I think the safe analogy is pretty apt (in situations without illegal stuff happening, which you seem

I agree about the importance of keeping crypto secure, but I think the safe analogy is pretty apt (in situations without illegal stuff happening, which you seem to be implying). People can't understand encrypted data (at least, I'd be super impressed with you if you could understand encrypted data as is), people have to decrypt the data using an encryption key. The FBI's current issue is that with data in a safe, there's a clearly defined legal penalty for refusing to unlock a safe when given a legitimate court order if you're the only person with the safe combo (you can't plead the 5th to unlocking the safe). With encryption, there's currently no corresponding penalty.