I am confused about the talk of mishaps and stuff. Is the break inherently dangerous?
No, the break is not inherently dangerous. The Navy has started throwing airspeed restrictions on the break mostly because of FLE issues. Afterall, why take a 6 G hit to the airframe when a 4 G hit will accomplish the very same thing.
There's ZERO reason to stay above cornering airspeed in the break. Like HooverPilot has said, its purpose is to slow you down so that can dirty up. Yeah, I understand that the Hornet can bleed like a mother (60 knots/sec or something), but that doesn't mean you need to max perform the jet in the break.
Some jet's are inherently unstable, but don't use that argument here, cause its not gonna work. Afterall, you're just a voting member in the Hornet. Plus, the Hornet will fly just fine with no airspeed indicating (superior one-circle fighter, but I guess you knew that).