That's exactly my reasoning for preferring new tyres on the front. It strikes me that the only practical difference between new and worn tyres (for normal road driving, not track racing or on-the-limit whatever) is the ability to clear water. The only times I've ever been close to losing control of my car have been when hitting standing water, or hard braking in the wet, on congested motorways (where it's practically impossible to maintain enough braking distance ahead because Van Man..!).Northern_Mike wrote: I prefer my better tyres on the front because they do more there. Which tyres hit the standing water on a motorway first? Do you want worn tyres, which won't clear that water as well to hit if first, with a higher risk of aquaplaning? A lack of grip compared to the rear in an emergency stop , wet or dry? I know I don't.
I'd happily be educated out of this position- I've no expertise in assessing tyres at the limit of their grip- but the last time I mentioned it to my "tyre guy" he agreed, but reminded me that it was counter to standard advice.
). It is, however, a bad thing if the rear has broken away (ie oversteer, promoted by better tyres on the front), as it will tend to exacerbate things, and means that you arrive at the hedge, going backwards, quicker than you would otherwise have done 
On the balance of these factors, most drivers and cars are likely to fare better with better grip at the rear, hence the standard advice.
I'll personally stick to understeer than oversteer as its much easier to sort out & doesn't give you as much of heart attack when it happens. Speed isn't necesserily the issue when the tyres lose grip, there is a roundabout near to me which in certain conditions is very greasey, it looks fine & can even appear almost dry, but can be lethal even going at quite moderate speeds. It was quite amusing following a load of cars who were turning off said roundabout going the same way as me & i noticed everyone one of them sliding all over the place with some cars gettng more out of shape than others & the usual brake lights coming on. I thought nothing more of it & kept my usual speed up & low & behold the front went mega light & the car started understeering, a gentle lift of the throttle was all that was required to bring the car back in line, but i was amazed at how little grip there was, i was doing less than 25mph.