Maybe they can charge extra if you want the vest? http://www.gadling.com/2008/08/25/to-save-weight-airlin...208390857x1200459697

I'd gladly pay them extra to NOT crash the plane.

In reality, if a plane goes down it is going to shred when it hits the water anyway. Life vest or not, it really won't matter.

Does anyone know how many times (if ever) the life vests have been needed in a (crash) landing?

There is a difference in a crash and a necessary controlled ditching of an air craft. In the US I think the requirement for the life vests has to do with how many miles they fly out in open water. Not an aviation expert though.

Dwayne

This was one example. I remember seeing a documentary about it several years ago. The Coast Guard cutter was on station as "Ocean Station November". Those people were probably saved by the over-built design of the Boeing 377 in addition to the skilled pilots. The 377 was based on the B-50, which was an upgraded B-29. It was an extremely sturdy airframe.