This was a story that was in the US hun its got something to do with the way they are designed there, they are perfectly safe in the UK
I have to have one, no way I could reach Thomas without it! I am only 4'10". I;m short enough to fit the height restriction on a carseat I was looking at the other day, lol.
Mine seems quite safe, to drop the side you must first lift it, then press in the bottom with your leg, then sort of yank it down.
I think the danger issue was that in a lot of cots/cribs, dropping the side down created a large gap between the mattress and the side.