An unstable system balanced at local energy maxima could be used to describe any unstable system, like a fighter jet, which is aerodynamically unstable because it gains a lot of maneuverability by being in that regime.

Rockets are stabilized by throttling and vectoring their engines. Not very different from fighter planes that use flaps to steer and stay on course.

If you are imagining that rockets are somehow uniquely close to being blown up as opposed to all other human endeavours you are both right in wrong. They are close to blowing up, maybe closer than anything else we have done yet. But wouldn't say they are so dangerous that the idea they could be done safely should be written off