> 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.
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.
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.