Firing clay with air pockets will cause it to explode?

I thought this was true for quite sometime but it is a myth, to some extent. Often new students will construct pieces that might have air pockets because they do not sufficiently wedge their clay and they are warned these might explode. It isn't the air pocket but the moisture it contains that will cause the explosion or blowout. These warnings are quite valid for a class because firings are run often and these pockets may still contain too much moisture. However, if a piece is left to dry completely and the bisque firing is done very slowly, the odds are very good that it will be just fine. Anyone have any heartbreaking experiences with explosions?? I've experienced an explosion firsthand with a kiln doing a fairly hot preheat with the lid open. The work popped very loudly and I quickly discovered some extremely hot shards down the collar of my shirt!