Any of you guys ever run into the bar opponent on league night that when you play a safe he looks at you like you have lobsters coming out of your pants? Then he calls you a B1tch and tells you you're playing B1tch pool, or something similarly charming?
Yes, it's pretty common in bar leagues. For right or wrong, I usually play according to my opponents ability in leagues. If I'm playing a banger, I won't usually play safe. The outcome of league play is unimportant to me other than having a good time with people so I try not discourage new and beginner players too much with jail tight safeties and kick shots. When I play people that can run balls, it seems that their pocketing skills makes them more aware of defensive strategies and they'll have no problem leaving me hooked, so they're fair game.
I once played a guy way better than me for a few bucks and knowing that he could run out from anywhere, I did nothing but shoot safeties. Maybe pocket a ball or two but then play safe at the first opportunity, whether I could make another ball or not. A couple people watching were making comments like "that's chicken-sh!t pool", etc. I still lost, but I made'em work for it. Afterwards, the guy I was playing came up to me and said "that's how you f'in play pool!" and not to worry about what those other dudes were saying. Since, I've watched pros play safe, not because they had no shot, but simply because they don't see a run out. I think in pretty much all sports, at the highest levels, good defense almost always bests good offense.