there is also the assumption that thieves know/care about security rates. most likely, they do not -- only bike nerds that spend alot of time online or in shops do. thieves will still attempt to compromise the locks no matter what the rating if they have the opportunity and desire to steal the bicycle. The only difference between a $300 Abus goldlevelfivestarmastersuper lock and a $32 budget On-Guard u-lock is an extra two minutes of attacking the lock with leverage, drilling out the u-lock, or attacking it with a grinder. And in a city where people mind their own business and police really could give a ratsass about bicycle theft, that's all the time in the world.