Doubting that a helmet "would prevent any serious injury" is like doubting that smoking will shorten your life. It makes no sense and is contrary to logic. The reason you dont wear a helmet is because you think it is too hot or too dorky/ugly. No other way around it.

But I read the studies and eventually concluded that wearing a helmet was basically a superstition created by people interested in selling helmets.

What a load of bull. First off I would be interested in seeing that study, I would be more than surprised if you could point me to it. A motorcycle helmet is just a 200 dollar hunk of fiberglass and cushion. That hunk of styrofoam will and does on a continual basis make the diff between a bad case of rash and a split skull.