As someone who has been into skateboarding for the majority of my 46 years, to dismiss what those girls were doing as dull is insane to me, they were doing crazy tricks down a 12 stair handrail!! Thats flipping huge! I couldn't do any of what they were doing. Its worth remembering that skateboarding has been a completely male sport until very recently, I had never even seen a girl at a skatepark until a few years ago such was the stigma attached to girls doing what's considered a boys activity but, as society has been changing, skateboarding for girls is huge now so I can well see them getting closer to the mens level for the next Olympics.
Also on the helmet thing, its a very long debated subject but from my own personal experience i've never hit my head street skating, only when on ramps.
Anyway, still got the bowl events to come, I saw the qualifications a few months ago and it was incredible, keep your eyes out for Andy Anderson and Zion Wright!