Lights make sense. I have lights on my car. The dipped headlights show up the road ahead of me .. including potholes.

They also tell another road user I am there on the road with them. I can be seen. They can see me. I can see them .. including the cyclist - but the one who in dark clothes/no lights ist not immediately visible until my dipped lights close in on him. This to me does not give me as much warning of his presence as the one with the lights or reflector und all it need ist some foliage or a pothole he not see for him to have wobble.
I use a light on my bicycle. I can be seen. I can see them. Most importantly the Lupines on my bicycle show up the road ahead of me. This means I can see the dips in the roads.. the potholes, man holes, debris, ice or whatever on road surface on the road ahead of me. It also mean I can see pedestrians, sheep, cattle straying around here too.
Lights are not a whim of the Road Traffic Act of 1988 nor a whim of the Highway Codes across the world. They SAFETY und COURTESY to other people und I will actively urge any policeman to enforce this without any discretion too.
I have never read such apparent daftness as posting up courtesy rules of the Highway Code (old version) in one breath und claiming in next that a driver has to see a cyclist who cannot be bothered to reciprocate such courtesy in the next

Think I read this on page 2. Cannot recall who posted this - but he must be a right muppet if he really think that.
Common sense .. pure und simple. Story end of. Light up lycra clad guys und gals!. Care not if you look like a "Christmas tree". We need such trees to brighten up horrid winter months anyway

I would rather have a lit up "tree" than a tree hugger anyway. They have such
colour 