I run backups on my computer before installing new software/fiddling with important settings/etc. because I've fucked up before.
I'll run backups of phones (or at least verify that they are present) before trying to fix issues on them after nuking my mom's phone which resulted in her losing pictures of my niece and nephew. (Luckily she had sent a lot of those pictures to us via e-mail, but still).
I'm guessing they feel strongly about getting singled out if something like this would happen to them. Possibly because they have been used as a scapegoat by a employer or team mate once.
"Desolée, Je ne parle pas Français"