Bill --

I understand your point about "non certified cars", however, there are numerous safety standards that apply to cars.  It has air bags, right?  Those are federally mandated.  It has 5 mph bumpers, the bumpers are at the right height to engage the bumper of the car you hit, it has brake lights on both corners *and* in the middle -- the list of federally mandated safety features is longer than you think.  

- Rob Wolf

p.s.  *Please* understand that I'm a homebuilder,too.  I think the risk/reward trade of flying a non-certified Lancair is worth it.  But I do believe that certification under Part 23 yields an airplane far less likely (okay, maybe only somewhat less likely) to crash due to a mechanical failure.