There does seem to be an industry generated negative press towards good old fabric ratchet straps.
Every other industry is quite happy to use them extensively and for almost all requirements. Just because something is made of steel does not guarantee its integrity, at what point will a weld burst apart?
Cars on transporters rely on just fabric straps to hold them onto the back of the lorry (around their tyres), I had my 2 ton vehicle shipped down from up country this way, and the transporter had 8 other vehicles all held down the same way.
As has been said 'Jump-jets' rely on them. Every time we take a car journey we strap ourselves in with them (seat-belts).
Take a look at what RSJ's are held down with on the back of lorries. Glass panels on the side of vans are held down with them.
The key is what the rating on them is and how they are anchored, which is the same issues for bolted down frames and straps.
Just my thoughts on the issue,
Alex