I’m on the shareholders registry for part of my shares (I’m not yet a real buyer and holder, so I see no point in registering what I might still sell). I’ve chosen my broker so that it allows me to do that (TradeDirect from BCV). You have to request them specifically, so it is a bit of a bother but they’ll do it if you ask for it.
I’m only buying Swiss stocks for the time being. My purpose is to choose in what other countries to invest once my wealth will warrant it and then really delve in their culture to get invested in the fate of their companies on a more personal level.
I’ll have to check what happens in case of broker bankruptcy, as I remember it, I wouldn’t be spared from total loss if they went belly up deeply enough but that doesn’t make a lot of sense if the shares are on the registry. I’ve obviously not studied it enough and will have to delve more in it in the future. For now, just getting invited to GAs with one share is enough for me.