I didn't say anyone say or imply helmets are gimics. What I have seen is a lot of people saying that helmets are NOT magic, which does seem to be what many helmet advocates do seem to be implying.

Long long ago when Hockey goalies were just starting to wear masks one of the first to do so got hit square in the mask by a very hard shot. Legend has it that his fiorst words were "My mask saved my life". This I believe. But when people wearing a helmet get back up completely uninjured I'm inclined to think the helmet most likely just saved them a nasty bump on the head. Still worth it in my book, but not live saving.