Very true on all points Deanimator. My favorite question when it comes down to gimmicky self defense tools is usually to ask the person if their wife/girlfriend/sister/best friend was in a parking garage alone with a big guy who is planning to rape her do they want here to have a whistle, sharp pointy thing on her keychain, some pepper spray, a taser, or a handgun that she's been trained to use. For some reason making it personal and showing the possible importance that her defense be sound seems to have a pretty good track record. I think most people believe rape happens just off a crowded street in a back alley and a whistle will bring people running to help or a quick kick to the shin and she can run into the arms of a policeman just around the corner. When you can make them understand that sometimes a person is really on their own....it clicks, at least once in a while.