Agree. You can certainly take precautionary steps to NOT get pickpocketted. (or at least mitigate risks significantly)

This thread has been indeed useful about how to be alert. Even knowing that pickpocket CAN happen is somtomes news to many American tourists who have never been exposed to situation where pickpocketing happens. Also for local resident or frequent visitor, hassle factor of pickpocket is significantly less than that for first time visitor on very tight time schedule.

99.999% of visitors to Delhi dont get dengue/malaria/chikunmungia. But first time visitors do get warned about it. And that is consdered good helpful advice.
Probability of first time American tourist getting pickpocketted in Italy is significantly higher.

Guess, we all are saying same thing but using different emphasis.

Between two messages:

"Rome is as safe as NYC/SanDiego"

vs

"Pickpocket in Italy is a known issue but risks can be greatlly mitigated by taking precautions mentioned on this thread and elsewhere"

which is more useful to first time American visitor to Italy? (even if both messages are correct)