I have a 1990 Cobra with non functioning brakes due to a blowout where I didn't catch it and drug the trailer quite a ways and tore up the drum assembly.
I've got to get a Dexter Axel on there with electric brakes. I think having functioning trailer brakes even at fairly low weights is very important.
A pickup pulled out in front of me this summer and I had a wild scary close call, having trailer brakes would have been very good. I was lucky I didn't T-Bone him and have a very nasty accident. Highway travel is dangerous.