I've never hit anyone, never really been hit, and have never seen a beginner get hit. In fact you don't do "combats" (where you can hit) before having trained a while (there is a technical examination I think, and I don't think it's something you can tackle if you don't train seriously), and I'm sure that persons who do not want to do that (for their hands, or their heads, etc.) have no obligations to do it. We only did "assauts", which are light sparring (you must touch your partner but not hitting).
Actually most of the training was about physical workout, technique and sparring. I don't think many people give/take hits every weeks or many times a week...
To put it in a nutshell, there are chances that as an amateur who practice one or two times a week you'll be able to keep your hands safe and sane
I'm sure any sport where a ball is involved is way more dangerous for the hands.
Also, If you practice with violent, dumb and incompetent persons, the odds would be quite high you'd end up having a problem.
BTW, Alexandre Lagoya was practicing quite a lot french boxing/savate in his youth if I remember well.
