It ran a mean 100m dash back in middle school, though.

See, there's your problem. You mixed static with your computer.

I've been a computer geek my whole life - like, I learned the alphabet using the keyboard of my family's 1989 Dell and a passion for them just continued to grow from there.

Not only can I not fathom that they work consistently, I can't fathom how we ever figured out how to get semiconductors to perform logic equations. I've probably spent days worth of time trying to wrap my head around it and I just can't.

AFAIK, your choices, as far as "general impact resistance", are either in-mold or injected foam - basically, one-time-hit that doesn't do much for small hits but takes a hard hit well versus meant to the small hits regularly but doesn't do as well in a hard hit.

You toss both after a good hit, but the former is lighter and meant for those riding in ways that don't expect a fall but want protection in case of the worst, while the other is for skiers expecting to fall, like air or pipe skiers/snowboarders.

If you think your only concern when skiing (or snowboarding) is fluffy snow, you either never skied or only skied high-end western US, European alpine, or some sort of 'exotic' mountain, all during prime conditions. Ice is a mainstay of pretty much any high-traffic mountain that isn't wide-open (such as all mountains in the eastern US, where you are almost exclusively regulated to established trails). Trees, rocks, and ski lift structures are also significant concerns on many mountains, as well. Some mountains even have condos right alongside some trails, meaning if you lose control, you could end up hitting a building or someone's vehicle.

But but but... death panels!. And my taxes going to the mino... the poors.