Finally, if you could do something today to drastically improve cyclist safety fifteen years from now, would you do it?
Not at the cost of my personal safety when I leave the house on my bike this afternoon. Maybe that makes me tremendously selfish. In this case, I can live with that.
EDIT: In your fantasy world, what is is that would change that would suddenly make the way I prefer to ride safer?
[No, it has not. But confirmation bias is incredibly powerful -- which is literally why ingested placebos work. Strapping one to your head, OTOH, does not work, as the statistics clearly show.
Here's some actual experiences of when a bike helmet made a difference to me...
A couple of years ago, I was riding my MTB on a section of twisty singletrack, following a buddy, having a great time ripping along at the limits of our skills. Around one particular turn, my balance was not exactly where it needed to be, and the front left part of my helmet slammed onto a tree branch next to the trail, hard enough that I was knocked off my bike. My helmet was significantly crushed in an area smaller than the diameter of a soda can. I had a bit of a headache, but everything else was okay, and I was able to complete the ride without issue.
20-ish years ago, while participating on a local, fast-paced, competitive group ride, I was accelerating hard up the side of the peloton (probably going about 35mph), when I hit a bump, my chain skipped, and I tumbled forward over the handlebars. My bike cartwheeled down the road a few times, but thankfully did not collide with anyone else.. My head was one of the things that impacted the pavement, with enough force to crush and split my helmet. I had road rash in a few places, a mild headache, but no serious injuries.
In both instances, my helmets served their purpose by absorbing impact energy that would have otherwise been taken on 100% by my skull. In both instances, I can say, confidently, that my helmet saved me from more severe head injuries.
These are just two examples.
"Confirmation bias"...nonsense. I also don't give a damn about your "data".
If the only retort that you can manage is a sad ad hominem attack, you may wish to reconsider, and investigate Twain's comments on fools and silence.
What I find sad is your inane proclamations that defy simple common sense. A helmet's job is to sacrifice its integrity to absorb impact energy. If you can't recognize how that is greater protection than not wearing a helmet, there's something broken in you. Personally, I think you're dangerous.