Wolfgang told us:

One paradox I see in me (and other people): the less we lose by a sudden death (in terms of expected remaining years to live) the more we avoid risks.

Ahh, Wolfgang, you are, I think, choosing the wrong standard of "less to lose" by death as one ages.

Yes, as one gets older there are fewer years left which might be lost by a sudden demise. But that very fact tends to make the years yet to be lived more precious, in the minds of many. This may or may not be easily justified by logical manipulation of objective factors, but it is an observable phenomenon in the subjective attitudes of many.

Thus, with fewer years expected to live, there may well be MORE to lose, not less.

Dave Oesterreich