It may have been smarmy but so fucking what. The fact is that brakes stop a cyclist quicker, easier and better. Why bother wasting time, energy and tyres when you could just pull a fucking lever.
All this (hand)brakeless bullshit makes me laugh, especially the excuses some people come out with (as if there's any other reason than "it's fashionable and I like the way my bike looks without the brake")
I like Messenjah