Nothing designed into a bike can say the same thing. So requiring safety equipment is not out of line.
horse feathers on a duck.
nothing, absolutely nothing, on a bike is designed to protect you in case of a crash. avoidance is good, protecting the body is even better.
I can walk away from a 30 mph crash in a car; seat belts, airbags, crumple zones, roll over protection. At 30 mph. you are a bag of meat tumbling down the road. You will be injured, period. With out a helmet, you are dead. with the right gear, you will live, hopefully to be able to live a good life.
Yo may be the best rider in the world, you may never do anything wrong yourself, but in that crash that is likely to happen, you will be that bag of meat.