No, I think it's a huge risk to be stuck somewhere these days without any means of contacting your family or getting emergency money sent to you. Especially if you're in a place that's politically unstable or where helping strangers isn't the norm.
One of these days someone will not be able to get their heart medications or a flight home because of this damn Gmail policy.
The scenario you present is a really obvious risk as phone thieves often compromise those devices.