Not too long ago I was sailing on a night that started normal and nice, but got unexpectedly cold and very windy later. The two of us -- one was the owner -- were tired, and a third crew member was nursing his seasickness on a berth. We were very wet and cold from the spray and the boat had too much sail on.

Things I wished: 1. That the owner had installed reef lines (did not, and I didn't check before we left that evening *). 2. That there were some kind of enclosure that could protect us.

Later we decided to turn around, and try another day in better shape. The next day the reef lines were installed.

So I don't really care a damn about the dictums of the circle of elders of any forum. Sailing is about freedom, and each one should do as it sees fit. If you want to get frostbitten, go ahead. Same if you want to build a green-house on the cockpit. I have my own dictum, though: if you sail in high-UV areas (**), it's stupid not to have a bimini: seeing the telltales at any cost will get you a free skin cancer.

(*) I'm not agile, by the time I looked for the reef lines, it was risky to try to install them, even if we found them somewhere on the cabin's mess.
(**) Anywhere except in Mexican "cenotes" and caves, these days.