As long as you don't even think about opening the QR after it breaks, the odds are quite good it will get you home just fine. (Axles trend to break quite quietly so it's best to refine your ESP skills and the like before riding.) If you do open the QR, you have just opened the cage and let the birds ball bearings fly off. One way to minimize breakage is to get your weight down to say 125 pounds.

There are some who feel buying cassette hubs is just plain easier.