I have worked in a bike shop that is less than a mile from a college with over 30,000 students since 1994. I have yet to have anyone tell me that someone cut their U-lock. That does not mean it did not happen, but I have had a bunch tell me about cut cable locks, you would think there would have been one or two stories about U-lock failures. Sure you can buy a some big cutters for around $300, theives are cheap, they will run doen to the picandpull and get a Euro car jack for $7. That and a couple of rubber bands will get you a U-lock breaker tha can pop lock in under a minute(I built one, they work) It is also way smaller than a near four foot long set of bolt cutters that weigh 40 pounds. Someone mentioned $30 bolt cutters, they will,not do squat, first time you try hardened steel it will ruin the cutters.