I would assume that the chip manufacturers are taking it for granted that the people who are hot-rodding their engines are installing proper instrumentation. That said, I would also assuem that most of the "average Joe" hot-rodders don't know a thing abou the proper gauges they need on a hot-rodded vehicle, or if they do, they don't know how to read them.

IMHO hot-rodding a vehicle is perfectly safe, if along with the modifications, an exhaust gas temperature gauge is installed and religiously monitored (and never allowed to exceed certain temperatures). The problem is that too few people do this.

Just my $.02...