[brwck]

> In what world are customers equally subject to the same risks?

Perhaps not the same risk, but risk nonetheless. People forget what banks truly are. They are institutions you give money to and hope they leverage ( fractional lending ), invest, etc it well so that you can take out the money out eventually. And maybe even earn some interest along the way.

> There's risk in walking outside.

No. The very real and actual risk that the banks managing your money may not be competent and gamble your money on risky loans, investments, etc. In this scenario, the depositer would lose part or all of their money.

It's amazing how well the industry PR has worked that people lose the sight of what banks really do. They fundamentally take your money, "gamble it" and hope it pays off. And if it doesn't, oh well, the government ( taxpayers ) bail them out. There is a reason why historically, people shied away from handing over their hard earned cash to banks.