Regarding the helmet, the choice is 100% yours. Motorcycle riding is all about constantly assessing "risk-reward".
I am an "all the gear, all the time" (atgatt) rider, and like to think that I take my safety very seriously (I promised my grandma, all those years ago).
When I had a low-speed crashed, I basically dragged my chin across a foot of pavement. It was a really "Low Impact" event, and the only damage to the helmet was some surface damage (scratches, a couple of nicks) on the front. No cracks or fractures and it fit fine. I opted to keep it for a couple more years (almost it's full life).
I would absolutely have replaced the helmet if I thought my safety was compromised.
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