As Daysleeper has already said, there is a time and place for everything. When flying over a remote and/or mountainous terrain, then you should take extra precautions. An ELT/flight plan/responsible person at one end of the flight would be appropriate.
It's all just helping load the odds slighty further in your direction. Though sometimes nothing can help if you take liberties with the weather or terrain.
I wouldn't want to be forced to take anything other than by my own airmanship or common sense.