Well, at some point, the conversation is going to be moot. CA and Oregon have very similar bike brake laws, and this year, a judge in Oregon recently decided that the law as is, implies that you have to have at least one brake. Legs & gear don't count.
hub-bub

CA cops are too lazy to cite for this, but I imagine it'll start a slow legislative trend where the definition of required bike gear will get clamped down.