I don't know about that being a "death" stem but that exposed bolt can be a very unpleasant place to land. Not very different from the ubiquitous stems of the Peugeot UO-8. As a teenager, I approached a downhill intersection at speed, on the hoods with my fingers over the brake levers. I hit a rock I didn't see, lost my grip and landed sternum first on the bolt. Entered the intersection with my hands down by the front hub. No other injuries, but man, did my sternum hurt!

Ben