Which is basically the logic the anti-helmet crowd uses to support their views.

Think about it though. A smashed helmet has to absorb a given amount of energy during the crash, that goes witout saying. The larger question is what would have absorbed that energy had the helmet not been present and would that noggin have been able to without serious injury.

There's also the matter of friction. Bare skin against hot asphalt certainly doesn't have the slick friction coefficient that a smooth helmet does either. Subsequently... and barring an engineering study of the exact amount, it's pretty easy to surmise that a certain amount of protection is provided by a helmet.

Now I'm with you on the speculation part, but a certain level is just plain common sense.

I wear a helmet for my family. If I get in an accident and they're left spoon feeding a drooling old man it won't be because I didn't try.