Maybe. I do remember an arrogant French student who came out to one of our bike polo games back in the early '90s. He didn't want to risk his bike in the game so I sat out for a while while he rode my fixed gear bike. I tried to warn him about what would happen if he tried to coast, but he scorned my advice by saying, "I am French. I know bikes." His girlfriend and I had a gut-busting fit when he went over the bars five minutes later.

I guess I'm saying that I am aware of the differences, but they don't seem any greater to me than the differences between a bike with handbrakes and one with a kick-back brake. I suppose some of us need to learn by experience. I've used that technique a time or two and have the scars to show for it.