I don't agree with your thesis here. I remember watching Evil Knievel as a kid.... and I didn't feel compelled to replicate his stunts. Some people just have plum manure for brains.
Not too many kids are able to get together 10 greyhound busses, and build 100 foot ramps etc. This is really not comparable to the stupid idiot playground stunts being broadcast on Jackass. Spinning a merrygoround like a top, with a car a a rope doesn't really compare to what Knievel was doing. IMO....