Reality Checks Important Silly Question Perhaps.

I'm at a novice level of lucid dreaming with one successful astral projection so far and a few strange paralysis experiences, and I'm also starting to have dreams basically every night.. what makes reality checks important for dreams? Is it to reassure yourself it's a dream so you don't get too excited and wake up? Doing that seems like a challenge on its own since I'm only usually a spectator of these not so vivid dreams... Or is it to keep you from literally jumping off a cliff in the physical world as opposed to the dream world? I suppose I just need to practice more, and stop falling asleep with headphones on too maybe..