Originally Posted by
J|Michael
That's a really good point. And perhaps I am putting too much effort into the look of it. What I meant about last resort, though, is that eventually I'd like to be able to rely entirely on leg power. For a lot of people that's why they ride a fixed gear in the first place, to be as close to the road as possible, as one with the bike. But to use as close an example as can be used, having a break is like having training wheels for me until I have the confidence I need.
I started riding fixed brakeless (mainly because my original fork wasn't drilled for a recessed brake nut), and am definitely more comfortable riding with a brake. To respond to your point, yes, I do enjoy riding fixed in part because of the simplicity, but I also enjoy riding fixed because of the control of and connection to my bike.
As numerous people have already pointed out, braking quickly and effectively with a handbrake requires skill, practice, and confidence; especially if you aren't used to dealing solely with a front brake. The only way to acquire these traits is by using your brake on a regular basis -- it's no good if the excrement impacts the air-conditioning (to borrow someone's excellent phrasing) and you ham-fist the brake and fly over your handlebars into whatever you were trying to avoid.
So while being able to stop without using the brake is a very useful and effective skill, being able to effectively use the brake is in itself a useful skill as well.