Well, if I wanted to be cynical I could say that there never is anything that is 100 per cent guaranteed to be safe, no matter if it is a digital currency exchange or the milkman. 
But I see your point.
Still, if you have an exchange platform that is linked to an actual company registered in a non-dubious country you always have some means of "legal leverage". I would say that this is a major point. If the platform is legitimate, well-run and not too big (like Mt.Gox) the chance of solving problems directly are also higher, IMO.
Still safer than Paypal, I guess.
And of course it is a smart idea to stick to the "basic guidelines": Alway Keeping your coins in your personal wallet and not online, do not put your life savings into BTC in just one exchange etc.
But I see your point.
Still, if you have an exchange platform that is linked to an actual company registered in a non-dubious country you always have some means of "legal leverage". I would say that this is a major point. If the platform is legitimate, well-run and not too big (like Mt.Gox) the chance of solving problems directly are also higher, IMO.
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I was looking into 2 well known exchanges and did some research only to find that a number of the members here who had used them for sometime have had multiple issues which have yet to be resolved.
Still safer than Paypal, I guess.
And of course it is a smart idea to stick to the "basic guidelines": Alway Keeping your coins in your personal wallet and not online, do not put your life savings into BTC in just one exchange etc.