Come on chaps, please give the speculation on causes a rest at least until we're assured the second guy is in the clear.
With regard to the danger of aerobatics; it IS more dangerous than normal flight because of the extra care that needs to be taken. You need to be cognisant not only of your weight but of where in your balance range you are (Your spin recovery may require different technique at the rear of the range vs the front). Your G limit will be different for different weights. Your aircraft may be unfamiliar or may require different inputs for a manuever you already know well but in a different aircraft. Your passenger may or may not be fully briefed on evacuation and parachute use for your particular aircraft. Etc etc...
The point is that the extra stuff to consider becomes extra 'gotcha' factors that would otherwise not figure in a normal cross country flight. Done properly and taken seriously, you can minimise the risk. Even if you do though, there could always be that fatigue crack or manufacturing fault that gets you. A safety factor of adequate height will give you the best chance. We don't do these things because they are easy, but becuase they are hard.