[et-al]

> Part of the learning experience of such travel, is to see firsthand how the locals of these places perceive the risk.

Sorry, but this is a just financial decision by locals and not a philosophical treatise on the value of life. Once people have enough money, they'll opt to take the car-taxi, doubly-so if their child is coming along. It's fun for backpackers and I'm glad it got you out of your comfort zone.

[decimalenough]

It's not quite that straightforward. Obviously the calculus changes when you can afford alternatives, but all social classes in Bangkok and Jakarta can and do take motosai/ojeks if they're in a hurry and the traffic (for four-wheelers) is completely jammed like it usually is.