“All right, instead of berating me, give me one reason why someone should carry a pistol without having a round chambered. I’m not talking about someone transporting a pistol or revolver to the range for target practice. I’m talking about the pistol one would carry on their person for protection.”
Because most people do not put themselves in risky positions as a normal part of their day. The most important part of self defense has nothing to do with a gun. Be aware of your surroundings and you can avoid many bad events. Sure it means taking a small amount of time before you can engage an attacker but thats a tradeoff with the reduced risk of not having a round chambered round.
Sure there are times when you want to have a round chambered but that level of readiness is not always necessary. Its a personal decision and ridiculing someone or berating someone for it is low.
I agree situational awareness is extremely important and I am always looking out for trouble. As a LE professional I deal with criminals on a daily basis and some of them have threatened me. But SA isn't a cure-all. As for the reduced risk of not having a round chambered, I don't know what you're talking about. As long as your pistol is in its holster, there is no chance of a round being discharged. If you pull your pistol from its holster, it means you're in trouble and it needs to be ready immediately. You don't need to be in a risky area to at risk.
I don't know what military you were associated with, but with the M-9 the standard carry was round chambered and weapon decocked with the safety off. That was even during training exercises.