I'm struggling with entire discussion, tbh: what did people do before rubber mats, rubber playgrounds, etc?
I had a step in the floor levels in my kitchen when mine were infants, and now have 3 levels in the house, since they were 4. House is tiled in entirety - no soft floor coverings. I have yet to have an issue with them.
What I do notice, though, is that visiting kids deliberately pause and negotiate steps, and then continue.
Much as I love mine - they're not made of glass, and insulating them from the Real World is, well, counter-productive. What'll you do when they have the school yard to deal with ?