Regardless of whether it's an ice axe or whippet, I think it is prudent to practice self arrest skills in places with a safe run out before heading onto terrain where a slip is likely to inflict significant injuries. Inexperienced users of ice axes have inflicted serious injuries, sometimes fatal , from stabbing themselves with an out of control ice axe.
Panic and how do I use this thing are bad things have in your head when sliding down steep snow. Self arrest movements need to be practiced enough that thinking isn't required.
I knew someone who had an ice ax, but no experience using it. Slipped, swung it into the snow, and fell without it. Lucky not to have been impaled a as you allude to. It's not intuitively obvious how to use one for self arrest, which means it's useless if you haven't practiced with it.
Sahale Glacier Camp in NCNP and Heliotrope Ridge on Baker both have ~45* glaciers with safe run-out.
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