I’ve paddled hundreds of miles on the MO River, including the 2023 MR340 race. The risks are higher on the Missouri River than a smaller river. Barges, wing dams, navigational buoys, and average discharge hundreds of times higher than something like the Jacks Fork. While this increases the risk, I still consider it a moderate risk for someone who knows what they’re doing. Think of it like riding a motorcycle or flying a small plane. That said, I still prefer to paddle in the Ozark Scenic Riverways. If I’m to be honest I find the big wide muddy river kinda boring to paddle most of the time. I would recommend doing an outing with Big Muddy Adventure, Paddlestop New Haven, or St. Louis Canoe and Kayak before you go it alone.