It's not just dirt and rain. Inexperienced bicyclists have a very real chance of getting hit by a car. I'd pay $500 on my worst financial day to avoid that.
You can drop the word "Inexperienced". But hte idea of paying to avoid this risk is misplaced. You're also doing a completely different activity. Under you're logic you should also work from home and order in all your meals. YOLO doesn't mean "... so be extremely careful".
There are two things at play, that have really cut into what roads I will ride on.
1) Distracted drivers. And it has no relation to age. I see old people using their phones, I see young people using their phones. This is number 1, by a huge margin, and it is just getting worse. I never use my phone, other than for navigation, while driving. Not even hands free. Leave a message.
2) Bicyclists that don't follow the rules of the road. Stupid young kids using both side of the road, and sidewalks, I sort of understand. We were all stupid young kids at some point in our lives. But there is no excuse for stupid adults. If you have a drivers license, you know the rules, they are not that hard. Where I live, more than two thirds of bicyclists ride to the left, against traffic. Lately, maybe as much as three quarters. My kids (young adults) all ride on the right, when they ride. They were taught that from day one. Does no one teach bicycling to their kids?
So I am out riding, trying to be aware of the roadway, blind spots, cars (worse, trucks on narrow roads), and as I crest a hill I meet another bicycle coming straight at me. WTF?