Couchsurfing: Awesome, or Terrifying?

Ok, I need opinions.  Do I try Couchsurfing?

For the uninitiated, Couchsurfing.org links travelers looking for a place to crash with hosts who have a couch to spare.  But it's also meant to be a way to make international friends and foster a sense of "world community" or something.

There are obvious pros and cons.

Pro: If my host is good, I might make a lifelong friend and have an incredible experience.

Con: If my host is bad, I am stuck in a stranger's apartment in a foreign city.

Pro: I get to see the city through the eyes of a local.

Con: I might have all my stuff stolen.

Pro: It's free, and potentially safer and more comfortable than a hostel dorm room.

Con: But what if my host is an insane criminal...?

So I ask you, does the potential awesomeness outweigh the potential terror?  Tell me what you think.  My life in your hands.

(Photo courtesy of Flickr user cs.belgium under the Creative Commons license.)