As a scientist I am sure you are faced with doing risk benefit analysis as well as the laws of probability. Just because you don't observe an event doesn't make it an impossibility, and if an event has a reasonable albeit small probability of occurrence, a high consequence if it does occur and a low cost to provide some mitigation is it not reasonable to take those measures. My sarcastic response addresses just these points, I have never observed myself having the potential of a serious head injury while riding on the road, therefore I should not assume it won't happen. I have had several MUP incidents under the conditions you suggest and the helmet protected me.

You knew by you own admission that you were going to get a lot of attention with this thread. Don't complain, you got what you asked for.