You're probably correct about the nomenclature (voltage vs. current).
That being said, I do have a fair amount of experience using lithium batteries in an extreme environment (electric R/C model airplanes. See: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=209187).
If you charge a LI battery over 4.2v per cell, they'll puff & explode.
If you discharge a LI battery below 3.0v per cell, they'll puff & explode.
If you charge them at a rate higher than 1C (capacity of the cell(s)), they'll puff and explode.
If you puncture them or damage them, they'll puff and/or explode.
In short, lithium batteries are a lot more volatile than either nicad or nimh batteries and need to be treated with a certain measure of respect.
Most consumer-level LI batteries are sold with a protective circuit that prevents over/under voltage situations from occurring. Most third-party LI batteries are sold without this circuit, which is why the OEM pack costs $50 and the third party pack costs $30.
Where most people have problems with consumer-level LI batteries is when buying the cheap replacement batteries. These cheap replacement batteries do not have the protective circuitry which prevents over/undervoltage problems. Hence, the news stories of cell phones exploding while in use, being dropped, etc.
Below is a photo taken during just such an event where a hobby-level Lithium polymer (really Lithium Ion Polymer) battery was deliberately charged at a higher voltage.
