Well guys, here it goes, in my "rant style"
OP: holy moly...
Firstly, there is a fundamental (and hopefully obvious to everyone) difference between racing and HPDE events. I'd also go further and say there is a fundemental difference between amateur circle track vs road course racing. The attached vid is a good example of that, where punting folks "outta the way" is a frequent occurance in circle track racing, as seen from a driver's POV (and i have seen tons myself in RL). But, if one tried it in a road racing club event they would most likely get barred for a season. Or longer. Anyone following too closely at an HPDE will get a black flag. Any aggression will lead to being expelled. If it isn't, change your HPDE provider pronto!!!
Secondly, ive been at it for a while, mostly HPDE, but also some competitive events of different types and i am happy to say ive never witnessed anyone die, nor have i ever seen a single production street car on fire. Yet i have witnessed a few cars wreck and even roll. Happy to say all drivers walked away without a scratch. Just bruised egos and tons of explaining to do to their wives and insurance companies. And towing bills to pay.
Production street cars, unlike purpose race cars are build very differently - safety wise - from a ground up. Crumple zones, fire walls, dozen+ airbags, etc vs rigid full frame, cage, fuel cell, fire suppression, etc.* Ive seen high speed hiway crashes where cars were a mangled piece if scrap, yet folks walked away.
Or maybe that's why...I also know of folks getting killed in pro race cars with full safety systems.
Bottom line, safety is a personal decision and there are no guarantees as to the outcome.
*Personally*, if i track a street car (as a dual purpose car), i prefer to keep it stock and rely on factory designed protection. Note that FIA tested and successfully passed safety of helmets with 3 points and airbags a long time ago (NB open face helmets got a pass first).
Without additional neck protection. That's not to say that wearing one (specifically designed for a 3 point) is not a good idea. Of course it is! Also note all materials inside a production car (carpets, headliner, seats, etc) must pass specific fire retardation standards. So a notion they would just light up like a Xmas tree is false.
Now if somebody installs a roll bar, a fixed seat, a harness and starts pulling airbag fuses out: they better know what the heck they are doing. Including seeking validation tests for any roll bar and especially if it is attached to a floor by screws/bolts vs frame welds. If i ever did it, i would again have a reputable race shop do the job according to full race standards (a la Nicky Bobby) vs relying on a bolt on kit that arrives in a box...
Also, *personally* I would not street any car with a roll bar because of proximity of hard iron vs soft noggin...Going "half way" is the most troublesome solution. IMO.
As far as fire suit at HPDEs: likelihood of any production car catching fire (perhaps some EVs excepted?) is extremely unlikely. Heat and dehydration is often a prime cause of poor judgement and in turn poor judgement is often a cause of mistakes and wrecks. So some pros vs cons to consider here, heat management wise. Either way, pure cotton attire only and no synthetics (which melt and stick to skin). Also UNLOCK the doors before going out. Just in case somebody has to open them from the outside.
A single layer fire suit offers about 3 second protection. Even the best suits that cost thousands are measured in seconds. To have meaningful fire protection (vs keeping wife happy and looking like a pro) one must wear additional Nomex layers under a suit. Otherwise it is mostly a fashion statement and a good way to sap one's energy on a hot day.
Either way, whatever you do, educate yourself and use your head, as it is your a$$. And dont forget everyone is an "expert" - me included (tongue in cheek of course!).