Safer, but mind-dulling.
Bender is probably the character who which many people can relate to, Fry is funny but he's not an as comical character as Bender.
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In theory:
I think Philip J. Fry is a comedic name ripoff of BTTF's Marty McFly, turning McFly into Fry (and taking the J from the BTTF actors name - Michael J. Fox) - I could be wrong, but it could be somewhat debatable?