@James @ Tom @ amanfrommars
I think that I'm setting myself up to be flamed....
I accept that having a method of control (when used properly) is better than not having one. However...
The point that I wanted to make is that as far as security goes, it is not appropriate to say that one system or method is better than another without a full definition of the specifics.
To use an analogy - years ago, the law changed to enforce the fitting and wearing of seat belts in a car. At the beginning, people were regularly told by salesmen that a given car was more secure because it had the seat belts. In reality, that was only true for the people inside, if the seat belts were actually used. If not, they were of no value and the security of the car was no greater than any other. (it was not any more secure for rear seat passengers until the law changed again, and it was no safer for anyone outside of the car).
Equally, there are many urban legends (and a few factual stories) about people that suffered greater injury from the seat belt than would have been the case if they had not be using it. Presumably because the seatbelt was designed for an "average" person, and the person using it was outside of the sepcified range.
(And of course, we could add to that, the fitting of seatbelts does not prevent someone from breaking into a car so in fact it doesn't increase "security".)
When describing security, it is necessary to explain what is being secured, against what and how. The only truly inherently secure system is one that never actually gets built. (and I'm not even sure about that!)