"Not because they're not compliant with the license, but because they don't want the _risk_ that a single mistake could shut down the entire production line and force a product recall."

The exactly same risk are taking licensing propietary software, a single mistake or legal hole in the license could allow the users copy/use the software against the interest of the company.

But the last never happen (or I have never seen) because companies take it seriously, while complaining with GPL have not been considerer important for them.