When I'm in Petsmart, I hear them tell everyone to use crates for training, etc. I guess it is up to the individual.
My pup's safely sleep with me. When I got Pebbles in July, she came with a travel carrier (as her crate), a sheared towel, a tennis ball, a kids stuffed toy & some Ol' Roy dog food. All that, except her kids stuffed toy, was gone within the first day!! The stuffed toy is gone now, it wasn't safe either......