what am I missing?

We've been on both sides. For the first few years we had Taz and Chewy, we were diligent about clipping them for their safety. Now, they havent been clipped for several years, and I do think they're happier. They can be more...stubborn and definitely have more attitude, which can be very trying at times. I've threatened to clip them several times, to get control of their attitudes.

There definitely are circumstances where clipping is the best thing for them. It really is a matter of personal opinion and nobody can say what is right or wrong for someone else. We can talk about our own experiences, and give advice that way.

I certainly agree that there are some circumstances where clipping is appropriate. Ceiling fans and flighted birds don't mix, definitely. I don't blame anyone for clipping, especially if it is done correctly and the bird can still get around. Just isn't my thing, and we happen to have a situation that is quite conducive to having a flighted bird, but I know there's lots of cases where clipping not only makes sense, but is necessary for the bird's safety.  

There's probably not a lot more that needs to be said here  , but I want to add one thing.  I don't think anyone on this forum does anything with their birds without a lot of thought and care.  I would not second guess anyone here on the decisions they've made on clipping.  However, there are a lot of people "out there" who are not that conscientious, or even curious, for that matter, and they don't give much thought to their bird's well-being.  For them, getting something that doesn't fly would be really good advice.  Of course, they are not likely to be in a place where they will get that advice.  

We don't have ceiling fans anymore, and the window fans I use in the birds' rooms in summer are so well covered with venting that the birds can't get to the blades (and Ringo has tried, the stinker). When we lived in our old house, we just left the ceiling fan off. Maggie enjoyed flying up there and landing on it, and the force of her landing made it turn around once or twice and she enjoyed riding it, but we unplugged it and never turned it on after we had birds. That's one of those hazards that too many people never think of until something horrible happens, I'm afraid. You have to look at your own household and your own bird's personality and figure out, as best you can without a crystal ball, what hazards are present and what you can do to keep your bird safe. You can't think of everything, but it's like baby-proofing a place. You try to think of everything, and you try to see your place through a bird's eyes. I keep fish tanks covered and even tape stiff cardboard over the openings that are necessary for heaters and pumps. I removed hooks that used to hold wall decorations when my parents lived in the house, because the tiels like to land on the curtain rods and I was afraid an awkward landing would get one of them impaled. My mom had hung some lattice from the ceiling and wove fake vines and flowers into it and Freddie flew into it once and bounced off and I took it down and threw it out. He wasn't hurt, just a little stunned, but out it went.