> They sound comparable with target funds being a safer option

“Easier”

Nobody said anything about safer.

> I’m confused because the Vanguard Target Funds have way less than your age in bonds.

Age in bonds is also the “easier” explanation, it’s something that someone without any knowledge of modern portfolio theory can probably manage to do. That doesn’t mean it is actually what modern portfolio theory says to do… just close enough that you’ll manage ok. It was the general recommendation before target date funds allowed everyone to easily access actual modern portfolio theory allocations.

You can still do whatever you want, of course, but if you don’t want to follow MPT precisely then target date funds are not for you.