So from a safety standpoint...wouldn't the safest option to be a max thrust take off vs reduced thrust take off?
errmm no!
The
safest option would be to
not commit the sin of aviation to start with.
Sure it's a pureist answer, but we all know aviation has many risks.
To eliminate all risk is clearly impossible, as much as to ignore all risk is a folly.
Therefore, one takes a suitable compromise between cost and risk.
Reduced thrust take-offs are one such area of compromise that has generally been found to pass the test of prudence by most pilots, although academics may question the logic.