1 NT is a great opening bid – descriptive to partner and awkward for the opponents. Yes – a 1 NT contract can be tricky to play. However its reputation as tricky is inflated because of all those times when the 1 NT opener is left, when his partner should have rescued him. Essentially, without game values (0-10 points) responder should almost always* rescue into a five-card suit; the weaker his hand, the more imperative the rescue becomes (for 1 NT is likely to be more disastrous). And responder does not need to worry that the 1 NT opener will get ideas above his station: he won’t bid again after the two-level rescue.
* See example hand (iv)

Exercise: which of these responding hands should leave opener in 1 NT and which should rescue?

Hand (i): Rescue into 2 ♥ [2 ♦ if playing Transfers]. Holding six hearts, you know your side has an eight-card fit. Note that you cannot be too weak to rescue – there is no six-point rule for responding to 1 NT.

Hand (ii): Rescue into 2 ♠ [2 ♥ if playing Transfers]. No guarantee of an eight-card spade fit, but still way better to rescue, especially given the singleton heart.

Hand (iii): Rescue into 2 ♥ [2 ♦ if playing Transfers], despite being balanced.

Hand (iv): Rescue into 2 ♣, unless you are playing Stayman. If so, you are better passing 1 NT [you can rescue into 3 ♣ via Stayman, but I’d recommend a sixth club to justify going up two extra levels].