Agree with everying but the recycling.
With a proper charger (as you said, in a fire safe place), they can be used.
But... Also as you implied, don't trust them to be safe on their own (like any unprotected battery).
I have some unprotected, they only get charged with an appropriate charger, and used in devices that are safe with unprotected cells.
Now, if someone doesn't want to be bothered with managing unprotected cells, then yea, recycle them.