I don't feel very secure relying on the cheap crap plastic guards on most saws either. Trying to run a thin strip through and under a guard with a thin push stick doesn't necessarily reduce the chance of kickback vs the grripper. True there is plastic between your hand and the blade but it is more sturdy and stable than a guard attached to a riving knife that can shift into the teeth with surprisingly little effort. I've shattered a guard and although my hand was not close to the blade, shards of plastic ended up in my cheek. Not advocating taking off guards but most are designed pretty minimally. Dave