Dear One,
Wearing a hat is not Halacha. We hold onto it strongly, which requires us to continue because of minhag/neder. Two differences. If for whatever unfortunate reason it would stop,there is no requirement to continue. And, there is no imperative to coax it on the less or newly observant.
When I hung round BMG, I was shocked to see bachurim davening there with no hat or jacket. I do not think it is like that anymore. It seems like the hat and jacket idea regained strength in the yeshivos.