> in Go multiple paths to the same board state are very similar in evaluation
Not at all, different paths to a board state also have widely varying evaluations in Go. Joseki is a great example of this, especially since these sequences have been thoroughly analyzed. In most joseki playing any move out of order will leave weakness and a skilled opponent will not just continue to play the pattern out of sequence.
Riding with traffic doesn't put the outcome in the drivers hands, your still responsible for paying attention to cars behind you and not, for example, pulling out in front of them. Even if it was completely in the drivers hands, I'd would rather they have more time to deal with it. And if nothing else, I'd rather become a hood ornament at 25 mph than at 55 mph
It might seem counter-intuitive, but you are much safer riding with traffic than against it. Drivers are conditioned to look in the direction of traffic and they aren't going to expect someone coming the other way. This ends up causing a lot of accidents at intersections and parking lot entrances.
In my area, [these accidents](http://bicyclesafe.com/#wrongway) are way to common. I almost hit a biker like this the other day because they were riding against traffic past my apartment entrance.