Ya its kind of ridiculous to compare a shrockworks bumper to a grill guard. Obviously a grill guard isnt meant for the same purpose a replacement steel bumper is.
And nothing is going to protect your vehicle from severe damage in a high speed crash. Its exactly what its called, a guard. And for small impact stuff, like hitting a deer, a grill guard will help protect your bumper. If you like the way they look, I say get one. Im thinking of getting just a bull bar (not a full grill guard) for my 98, JUST for the look! And I have no expectations of it protecting my vehicle in a crash. The best strategy for crash protection is being a defensive driver
I mentioned in the beginning that if he wants something for protection, a real bumper is the way to go. You're right that they're incomparable.
I beg to differ about the crash results. This may not be extreme high speed, but by god is it one hell of a lot safer. And no, there was no frame damage.
Shrockworks Bumper Accident Tested at ~30mph! (lots of pics) - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum
And last time I checked, hitting deer was certainly not a small thing. I've seen entire front ends get destroyed if the collision was right. Brush guard or not.
While I do respect your opinion, if you like one, get one, but there are more reasons that most don't have one.
1. Diminished Approach Angle: Grille guards and bull bars stick so far down below the front bumper that you'd barely be able to go up a lot of stuff. If you tried to go up something too steep, hitting that brushguard support would bent that sucker right into your bumper/hood/etc. Lets face it, those supports cannot withstand a 4300lb+ truck and it's momentum against an obstacle.
Take this video for example, imagine how F-ed I'd have been:
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1VPhMpn83p4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
2. Yes, we've all heard it, but damage damage damage. This LC went from a little bumper scrape to a $1,500 dent. As you can see, the bumper had a slight scrape. The brush guard was bent back to where the bumper begins. Now, Cost of brushguard, new fender, paint, fender flare extension, and paint for bumper.
Brush guards are Damage Multipliers
3. Unless you're really afraid of some brush, then I find it to be a negative, both in cost of actual purchase and then cost of damage. You may be the best driver since Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz made the first real automobile in 1886, but doesn't mean that when you're parked at the store that some idiot wont come bumping along in his beaten (somehow still running) 1988 Chevrolet Impala and donk your grille guard a new one.
We're not trying to go against you, we're trying to save you the hassle in the long run.
However, 4runit does make a good point

I'm ordering my CBI today from insurance money ahaha