I was kind of cranky about the CPSC standard being so stagnant, and I still think it could use some updating, but as long as the major manufacturers are making MIPS helmets and selling them through major sources in the US, I guess I'm OK with it.

I think if MIPS were required, we'd have $30 MIPS helmets instead of $60 to $200 now. But even that wouldn't be cheap enough for some people, especially when buying helmets for their kids, so I guess having a minimal standard for everyone, which allows Wally World to sell kiddie helmets that are really not bad considering the speeds that most kids ride at, and better helmets for those of us who ride at higher speeds, in traffic, and are willing to pay for it (I think most adults who want a good helmet are willing to pay $75 or so for a really good one) having two standards maybe isn't so bad.

We do need to raise awareness, however, that the old saw "Doesn't matter, all helmets conform to CPSC so there is no safety difference" is false. Even if there weren't a MIPS standard, saying that all helmets were the same because they all meet some minimum standard doesn't follow - it's like saying "all cars meet the minimum standard, so a Ford Escort is no safer than a Volvo."