After 20+ years of motorcycling and four decades of pedaling, I sometimes choose to ride without a helmet, too.
Luckily, my state doesn't have helmet law.
I feel people should be allow to choose how much risk they are willing to take while operating vehicles.
There will always be those who don't know better until they get hurt, whether "rest of society pay for the bills for lifelong care" is a bit of a stretch.

Personally, I feel eye protection should be prioritized before helmet, since the chance of catching something with your eyes and then losing the ability to control is likely worse outcome than just crashing with helmet on.