I don’t really think it’s a matter of who has banged out and survived ! It’s more a case of having the ability to get out of a rough situation with a chance of survival. People have seat belts in cars but rarely need them until an emergency- same with ejection seats.
The comments regarding the JP incident near North Weald
should point out that the seat had been incorrectly fitted with the leg restraints stopping the seat top latch from engaging.
Hence when the aircraft was inverted the seat departed the aircraft with it’s occupant. Luckily in this case the barostat still worked and the seat parted company with the occupant leaving him hanging on a parachute. It was a miracle that it happened
this way. An ejection seat isn’t put in to increase weight – it’s
the last resort option which saves lives.