Patch kits have their place. But they wouldn't be very useful to someone who foolishly rides over one of those "do not back up" grates. Nor are they helpful to the board track racer using tubulars. And the guy riding airless tires would laugh at the idea of a patch kit.

So yeah, I guess patch kits are a lot like helmets. Some people get good use out of them. Other people don't have any real reason for them. And some people do such idiotic things on bicycles that no patch kit in the world will help, even if they do believe it's some kind of talisman.