This comment is precisely the point. You assume the risks are equivalent but they aren't even close. Roughly 50x as many people die on stairs vs elevators. Yet

This comment is precisely the point. You assume the risks are equivalent but they aren't even close. Roughly 50x as many people die on stairs vs elevators. Yet more people are afraid of elevators. Even subtly in your comment, notice how you minimize the risks of stairs and underscore the risks of elevators. Similar thing with ladders. No one would ever get in an elevator if it had the same risk profile as a ladder. So why do we use ladders? Because there is a high degree of control. Humans are more comfortable with risk so long as there is a control/participation element.