There's always someone expressing concerns about where the edge is when "deploying" a neck knife. Some even mock those who use them by saying a user is only endangering their life trying to sheath it pointed at their neck.
I guess if you don't have any common sense it could happen. Usually a concern of those who don't have any common sense in the argument. Resheathing any edged weapon shouldn't be done at combat speed. It's a two handed affair done carefully with the point aimed away from the body as much as possible.
I suppose our forefathers were all scarred down the hip and belly from all the long knives they inserted into their pants - instead of the sheath.
The whole argument rings with the sincerity of being worried about reholstering appendix carry. Seems most of the incidents happen in training. Maybe trainers need to pace the class more carefully for maximum safety.
No, people don't stab themselves in the throat very often with neck knives. But it up to the user - same as all the other little and big scars on our hands. They weren't supposed to happen either. Try pushing the scabbard down on the blade and maybe it won't be so much trouble. Beats shoving the blade toward the scabbard and missing. Hmm?
You basically have to be smart enough to know how to use a tool correctly. I am aware, tho, that we generally think we are - until something like shooting a 16d into our knee climbing down a ladder makes us human again. Don't tie down the safety, duh. Cheap lesson I learned at someone else's expense.
Wearing and using a neck knife has a lot to do with the working environment, mode of dress, and accessibility. What makes a folding liner lock clipped in the pocket is ease of one handed use - and I don't stab myself in the groin putting it back dozens of times a day. I also make sure I distance myself from any other person near me. Safety first. A neck knife can't be worn over my work shirt, I'd have to access it from underneath, and that rather defeats the whole point of it being there concealed. A clipped folder is just easier.
I look at the whole phenomenon as simply a market for the off time user, not on the clock. Tool users keep them oriented about the waist. Up under a shirt isn't work friendly. Goes to neck knives being uncommon among trades and mechanics, but almost required in self defense and LEO circles as a back up knife - to the clipped folder in their pocket or belt.
In a low risk situation, the 4" clipped folder is almost overkill, little reason to need a little 2 1/2" neck knife, too. But - we buy them anyway.