I know a handful of people that are absolute zealots when it comes to One Wheel and electric unicycles, riding all kinds of crazy contraptions, and doing so with incredible skill. They all still wear helmets and pads, all it takes is some wet leaves and you’re going to have a really bad day.

Experience doesn’t matter. Riding one of those things with your hands in your pockets is 100% downside, 0% upside.

It’s like riding by bike in traffic without touching the handlebars: sure, as an experience cyclist I can. But why on earth would I?

You sound like the people who explain that they're good drivers while using instagram on a phone because they have a lot of experience driving cars and using phones.

So you intentionally increase the danger of the situation (by not fitting brakes) to look cool.

Got it.

Until you drop a chain with clipless shoes with clipless shoes on, so you can't even shoe brake very well like BMX riders do. I had that happen with MTB shoes on, and I completely wore down one of the lugs. I've also accidentally unclipped, before I switched to running my Time ATAC cleats reversed which I think is an old messenger trick.

And that is why I only ride my NJS frame on country roads, not in the city anymore :)

Competence is a larger factor in safety than equipment in many cases, yes, which is why the girl is probably still alive and uninjured. Even so, I wouldn't mind having some safety equipment as a backup.