I think S&W is smart for offering the option of a safety on the M&P. If you don't want it purchase one without, but if for any of several reasons, you want it, you can have the safety.

You may call them "gun dumb" but there are a lot of people that may be new to guns that want an additional measure of safety. If the added safety measure helps give them the confidence to learn more, to handle the gun more, and to carry then I see it as a good thing.