The debate on gas tank location safety rages unabated. Remember Pintos with rear gas tanks would explode in rear end collisions? Then Chevy pickups with side tanks would explode in side impacts. Wherever you put a gas tank, you are in peril if you get hit from that direction. Most people don't like sitting with a bomb inside the passenger compartment however.
As far a service convenience goes, removing a gas tank for service is a rare event. My Astro has 450,000 miles and the tank's never been out. Don't worry about it.
