First off let me just say that I've been in retail, customer service, and even technical support services for many years now. The sad truth of the matter is that a majority of consumers simply don't care about the details anymore. That doesn't mean we shouldn't still inform them of the facts - but maybe we should just give them a booklet to read on their own time. I've seen many a time where a customer wishes to buy something and while the sales associate is talking to them about it, they change their mind just to find something "less complicated". They just want something that works - they don't care how or why.
When it comes to APVs, I would have to agree with the signed liability contract - but only under certain conditions. If a store is selling hardware with regulators and all the safety precautions built in, there should be no need for it. Granted, accidents do happen - that's why they're called accidents. The only time it should be needed is when selling an APV with the intention of sub-ohm or other potentially dangerous form of vaping.
Let's face the facts. At this moment, I'm holding an MVP 2 with a 2600 mAh battery. This thing has all of the safety precautions I need built right into it. But should I decide to become adventurous, I could take off the casing and cross a few wires and end up with a sizable pipe bomb in my hand. Here's the catch though: The brand new Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone has the SAME capacity battery (probably with a lower amp draw limit). There's nothing to say I couldn't take apart that phone and do the same thing. So what makes one electronic device more dangerous than the other?
This is why I say there should be a conditionally-signed contract for APVs. We know that these devices are potentially dangerous, and that's why they should only be used by those that are well-informed about them. Since there is no screening process, I think that every B&M store should follow this concept. It's true that if one of these devices do cause harm, I'm sure the media will be all over it. But if somebody who puts a turbo-charger in their car blows up because of it - well the media will still be all over it, but I doubt they'll mention the turbo-charger. The media is just looking for what sells, and when something is new and unfamiliar to the world - well, that sells!
Alright, with way too much having been said; I'll end with this: "You cannot protect a fool, but you can protect yourself from becoming one."