Since I occasionally do not wear my gear I will go ahead and answer with some questions myself...
Who wears a seat belt while in a vehicle every time?
Who wears a life vest while on the water every time?
Who wears a helmet while riding motorcycle every time?
Who wears a helmet while riding bicycle every time?
Who wears a harness while working above 8' every time?
Who wears safety glasses when appropriate every time?
Who wears hearing protection when appropriate every time?
Unless you can say "yes" to every above question, you have no business questioning anyone else about when they choose to or not to take reasonable safety measures.
And if you can say "yes" to all above......well you're an annoying dweeb!
Avi gear or not, THE most important piece of equipment we have to stay alive is between our ears, one poor decision when riding and we can lose our life or a friends Avi gear or not. A group of intelligent decision makers will stay alive Avi gear or not, A group of poor decision makers can lose their lives Avi gear or not.
The decisions we make about the terrain we are riding on any given day determine the safety or not, our Avi gear if needed proves we our our group made a bad choice. The truth is some guys without gear are capable of intelligent decisions that will allow them a lifetime of mountain fun without consequences. Many or most of us push the envelope and expose ourselves to greater risks due to the terrain and conditions we play in. I wear my gear because I choose to play in terrain where I or my group might need it. Many don't play in the same terrain and are at way less risk without Avi gear than those of us with Avi gear in more complex terrain.
Yes, we need to educate all who are playing in Avi terrain, those who choose not to can survive just fine without the gear.
My two cents.