True, it can be used for... other means. It can be activated with one's own blood. That doesn't change that of all forms of magic, it has the most potential to cause the worst harm.

[Though he's pretty shocked to learn that there are worlds that treat mages even worse.]

Magic is feared here, certainly loathed by some, but... it's never gone that far. The traditional response has been to lock the mages away. I can't imagine such a world. Have they put up any resistance?