In my city, last night a 50+ year old man was going home after having closed his shop. He was walking home with his wife. Carrying money from that day's business. They were attacked by 3 men. Attackers used pepper spray on the woman, one started beating her, while the other two turned to the man.
The man pulled 357, shot the first attacker that came to him 2 times, in the thigh and in the head. The attacker lived (head shot might have been a ricoshet, probably, since it didn kill him). Attackers fled.
Had he not carried the gun, his wife and him would have been beaten up and robbed. Now he's going to 5+ years in prison. Thugs said they were not going to rob him, just wanted to fight.
Point is - if you carry a gun, in a stressful situation you will get scared and use it. Not always wisely (impossible for 99% of people to control themselves when very scared). So I guess it's wiser not to carry. At least in my city. Robbers take money and run - not many people get killed while being robbed where I live. 1 in over 10.000 perhaps.
I rely on judging surroundings, paying attention to people, places, where I go and when, also make sure I don't look like an easy target with lots of cash. AND avoid conflicts at all times - just smile and wave.
Realised I just lied!
I almost always carry weapons, but they are in the bacakpack at the rack, or in the panniers. Knife for cutting cable insulation etc, sometimes even gun for practice shooting, but it is not stored in a way to be used for self defence/attack, but in a way to be safe, taking loooooooong time to unpack.