Be prepared for lots of authoritative and/or strongly felt responses on this one. Bottom line for me is the somewhat awkward truth that "sleeping with food works fine most times and places, but it's best in most times and places to protect against bears getting your food anyway".
Places with set regulations on what to do about food storage will also fine you. Sometimes really heavily - Yosemite rangers can slap you with a $5,000 fine if they see you flagrantly ignoring their food storage regulations. That's a really expensive backpacking trip. And if it happens that the bear trashed your car coz you left a wrapper on the seat, the fine comes in addition to the cost of car repairs, towing, etc. A good 95% of bear damages occur in the frontcountry in Yosemite - ie, parking lots and campgrounds.
So there are multiple considerations at work. A set rule (which Grandfather Mt has) is usually there because there is a significant enough problem that they felt it warranted a rule. Rules like that can have a lot of consequences.
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