Passenger with any sense will indeed take their hand/carry on bags if this is at all possible in the circumstances. They ain't stupid:
They know full well that loosing their personal documentation, passports etc in those bags is going to cause major grief and aggro.
They know loosing their expensive cameras/computer/whatevers etc will start an endless round of argy-bargy with insurance companies. All of whom will try and delay/deny payment - particularly when it's returned "damaged" or mysteriously "lost" and exactly when it was damaged/lost becomes an issue. Then the insurance companies will start demanding purchase receipts for said items...........
Yup, I'd take my stuff as well