Yeah, I was a bit shocked to see this. Not because it shouldn't be easily accessible, but because most women I've talked to about this has gone through some sort of dialing in process. Whether its for dosage or a different brand. Hormones are not easy.
No medication is completely safe. Any medication approved for use has to be "generally safe" when used correctly. So basically all meds can be dangerous or safe. It's all about informed consent and proper use.
Well exactly. In this case it's more a matter of whether the move to non-prescription introduces significant new risks both that didn't exist before and that the layperson shouldn't be expected to be able to handle.