Beefer...
The entire helicopter industry puts lives at risk at some point. I would remind you of the North Sea in Winter....and how sea states in excess of Sea State Six put everyone at risk in the event of a ditching....particularly after dark.
That the Hawaii based tour operators would do something akin to that ....should come as no surprise to you.
The GOM operators reluctance to be rid of single engine helicopters is yet another way people are put at risk....winter operations over cold water in single engine machines with no immersion suits is not a very "safe" thing to do I would argue.
The "bottom line" drives all operator's safety programs...that is life.