Hi bkrownd!

Yes, front wheel lock can be a disaster, but it most often isn't. If the bike is stopping in a straight line, the front wheel will merely skid and you can release the lever a bit. If the bike is turning, front wheel lock can cause the front wheel to increase the radius of the turn. If the bike hits an obstruction with the front wheel locked, you can go over the bars (of course, this can happen even without the front wheel locked).

Physics dictate that the front wheel is the most heavily loaded in a stop. That is why (with the extra load creating additional traction) the front wheel is the most effective place to apply braking force.

I know you disagree with my statements, and I'm not trying to persuade you to change to front wheel braking - I just think that the "conventional wisdom" (as offered by Sheldon Brown) is best for most riders.