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@Momentum
I think that the fact that people immediately think that brakes aren't necessary is a good example of how some headline facts about fixed gears get quite over exposed. I find it quite weird that I have overheard people who don't look like they're really into cycling talking about fixed gears while locking my bike in front of them - it's a big change from a couple of years ago.
I'm not sure whether that many newbies will ride brakeless in reality. When I built my first fixie I ran it brakeless for a day or two while waiting for a front brake to arrive from Chain Reaction (was too tight to buy a pair in London). I'd read that you could use resistance braking but found that it was a) hard and b) ineffective and so rode very slowly for a few days. I think most people have a good sense of self-preservation and so will ride pretty slowly if they don't have a brake. Then they'll realise that riding slowly is no fun and put the brake back on.
Bit of ramble but I agree that the whole thing is interesting/worrying. I guess it's once of the side effects of the increase in popularity of fixed gears. Will we have a Bike Snob London writing about hipsters in Shoreditch who crash into things cos they don't have a brake?