With or Without Rib Pads?

Rib pads offer more protection and are in theory better for you to wear, however, hardly anyone wears them after the middle school level. Everyone probably should wear them, but it's concidered not a very "cool" thing to do and shows your weak.  I am like that myself, I own a pair of pads, but i never wear them because wearing less is more cool, also because I play defense, I don't have the ball often. It would be usefull to attackmen because they get hit hard in the ribs by defenders sometimes, but players still don't wear them.