You're describing a false dichotomy (and evidently an inaccurate description of how currency is stored). There are good options to avoid leaving currency on ex

You're describing a false dichotomy (and evidently an inaccurate description of how currency is stored). There are good options to avoid leaving currency on exchanges. Using a hardware wallet like Ledger or Trezor (which I assume is what you're referring to) is not like storing your currency on a USB. The wallet facilitates access to your private key. If the wallet is damaged, access to your private key can be restored using a passphrase.