My risk-o-meter is perfectly fine thanks. It has provided me a very good living. I provide insurance for a lot of trucking and sanitation companies. I have seen more than a fair share of road debris related claims as well as road debris related catastrophies and fires. It happens a lot, and can be much more severe than you think. Run over a tire cap at cruising speed on the highway that just flew off a tractor trailer, very common in the summer by the way, and I guratantee it can tear off the fender of a step side. Of course that's on the more severe end of the spectrum, but road debris damages are incredibly common and are more likely to be reported to an insurance company, not GM.
As a former auto body shop owner, repairing dings or dents in a fender that are a breeze to remove is much less of a concern to me than a shreddded fuel tank and filler neck.
In any event, thanks for your input, if the mood strikes me and I have time to kill, I can put my creativity to work and just fabricate an aluminum diamondplate splash shield, that will not only look cool but provide at least a little protection that will soothe my ever analyzing brain.