1) Am I going to die a messy and embarrassing death when the fork inevitably and spectacularly fails?
2) Is there a relatively safe way to remove the star nut?
3) Assuming said removal could be accomplished, would the fork be safe to use?

I purchase a custom Marinoni Fango CX with a carbon fork about 10 years ago. I had ridden it about a month and I was climbing Mount Royal and had to stop part way up. When I restarted I stood on the pedals and pulled up on the bars and "Crack" I went over the back end of the bike and my legs got cut up by long carbon strands that extended from the sheared off steerer tube.

The tube contained a star nut. Marinoni did not assemble the bike and the shop that did swore that they did not put it there. I spoke to Marinoni and they installed a new fork and repainted the bike.

I've checked out every bike I've bought since that experience.