"In NYC, we have to deal with not only SUVs but cabs. When you are going 35kmh-45kmh down one of the avenues and a cab passes you only to screech to a stop 10-15 ft right in front of you, you appreciate a front brake."

Well that is NYC...I believe everyone rides with a front brake there, right?
However, in San Francisco everyone can drive very well and there are no hills or cabs.
Seriously though, some of the older riders here call no front brake fixies "New York style". I wonder why...

"ha ha ha ha, what crazy world do you live in?
you can stop like 3x faster with a front brake, you can go as fast as you want down hills without worrying about losing control or that ******* pulling out in front of you..."

Is going as fast as I want down hills safe with a front brake? If I go down the hill 3x slower than you without a front brake am I just as safe?

Also, I am not against front brakes at all. Hand brakes rule! Sometimes I use one sometimes I don't. Last weekend I did a long ride in the Oakland/Berkeley hill with several steep 5+ mile descents. Did I have a front brake? Of course! I wish I had three! Did I add the brake because it would not be safe without it? Hell no! I put a brake on so i could keep up with my roadbiking friends and so i would not burn out after 30 miles.
Could I have come to a full stop within 15 feet going 45mph down a hill? Nope!

Avoiding obstacles and finding loopholes can be a very valuable skill - especially riding in cities. It can be aquired using hand brakes of course, but one will learn a lot faster and more thouroughly without.