What is your perception of Mexico?
I’ve been traveling to Mexico since the early seventies. Back then the biggest negative was corruption. Today it seems the corruption has merged with drug violence to form a particularly nasty stew. The country itself is beautiful with an interesting history. The people are a mixed bag like everywhere else – some good, some bad. It's just that now the bad are really bad.
If you were to plan a vacation would Mexico be on your list of potential destinations?
If not, why?
About the only way I would travel to Mexico today would be on a cruise ship where I had the choice to stay on board or get off the ship. We’re actually taking a cruise to Mexico the end of October. Wish me luck in Acapulco. 
Would you feel safe in Mexico?
It would depend where I was. I’d definitely be on high alert and stay aware of my surroundings.
What is the biggest plus and biggest minus that Mexico offers you as a tourist destination?
Temperate weather and beautiful country offset by the opportunity to be kidnapped, held up or murdered.
For those that go on a cruise, is Cozumel a compelling reason to choose one over the other? Either a positive or negative?
Personally I like Cozumel and feel safer there than on the mainland. While I wouldn’t specifically book a cruise because it was going to Cozumel (I prefer to visit new places when I cruise, given the choice), I’d look on it as a good port when selecting an itinerary. We stopped there last March.
One point I'll add is I've traveled through Mexico enough to be fairly comfortable there, or at least not to be terrified of the entire country. But I can see where tourists who have never been there would look at the current levels of violence and decide to go elsewhere, and I wouldn't blame them a bit.