Dog bites that cause no real damage don't warrant newspaper stories. The pits get written up so often because of the bitting pressure and jaw size causing far worse damage when they do attack.
I just don't see why it is necessary to have a dog that might tear out the throat of a neighbor kid, or kill the neighbor's dog or cat. As a responsible neighbor, I'm more comfortable knowing that any kiddle that wanders into my yard needn't worry that my dog will harm them. Same with the neighbor's Golden across the street, they don't have to worry about the little kids next door with their dog. I absolutely KNOW that my dog won't kill the neighbors dog or hurt their kid. Can you absolutely know that about your pit?
Really, did you look at the article (on the first page of this thread?, previously posted by GAWM in response to someone else who thought that golden retrievers were above harm) That little child was mauled by a golden retriever.
No one knows what a dog is going to do. No one. I don't care who you are. That is why it is on the owner to behave in a manner that will prevent any type of action. I never leave my dog alone with anyone that has not lived in my home. NEVER. Not because she has ever been agressive, but because there is no need to take the chance, for the same reason that I turn off the iron when I leave the room, and lock the doors when I leave the house.
My dog is always on a lead that enables me to control her, no matter what the circumstance. I have to say that anyone who leads a pit on a stretchy leash as this OP described, is an idiot.
When she goes to the vet, she is muzzled, not because she bites, and not because she is agressive, but because there is no way for me to predict what ANOTHER animal in the room might do, and I have no doubt at who would come out the winner.
I don't have pit because I feel manly that she could tear out the throat of a neighbors pet, in fact, I am quite the girlie girl. I do have a pit because they are highly intelligent dogs, with great senses of humor, and are extremely loving and loyal pets, in the right hands.
The fact that if she was called upon to defend me , she would, and quite effectively, is just a bonus.