I get asked a lot... Is it dangerous? It looks dangerous? Your wearing all that gear?
I'm wearing standard roller blading pads it's really not all that... I don't see people flipping out about people the dangers of rollerblading.
You don't wear the seatbelt in your car for your driving you wear it for the other drivers on the road... The known unknowns.
Regardless of the above, there is not much seperating you and the road at high speed on a OW and as opposed to a bicycle there is a computer intermediary that has some control and decision making and without any notice in the equation, so as opposed to when I first learned, I actually wear more pads now.. Backwards I know, but I am more daring and travel at faster speeds. Crash less but, if/ when I do, it will likely be more spectacular and throwing on some elbow pads really no big deal.
That's my philosophy... :)