There are guys here that ride brakeless and do it safe. I have too many hills on my path to feel safe without one. That and they outlawed it here. Other than that, if I lived in a semi-flat area, or even an area without death hills I would go brakeless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idj_eKSORg8
Other than that, there is a Zen's pizza...