If I remember correctly, the in-room safe is a convenience but does not have any implied degree of security or backing by the hotel.

When you bring something to the lobby front desk, and staff puts the item in the hotel safe, there is contractual liability on the part of the hotel.

So it would seem that if liability and accountability is important, bring the items to the lobby and ask the hotel to store the items.

I prefer in-room safes for their convenience. However, one time the batteries inside the in-room safe were dead so I could not make it lock. I had to wait for maintenance to come and install new ones. That was annoying.

I would opt for in room safe. That way the liability of anyone that broke into it would be limited to only those with access to your room. In a lobby, more people could potentially break into it.

I’m always more worried about me forgetting that I left something in the safe than that it will be stolen. For some reason, I feel less like I will forget it if it is in the room’s safe.

I try to travel only with stuff I don’t mind losing.

@ARE_you_kidding_me I have tried that but was unsuccessful. Except for clothes everything I pack I don’t want to lose.
Car keys for car I left at the airport, cash, airline tickets /boarding passes, camera, electronics, laptop, tablet, shaving kit, etc. all go in the safe when I am not in the room.

Before I use the safe I test to make sure it is attached properly and cannot be unbolted. So far they have always been mounted properly.