Genetics only dictates the sensitivity of your follicles, and like, baseline hormonal profile I guess.
Thing is, I did used to be starting to fall into the pure genetics way of seeing things, but I've seen a fair few people now reverse their male pattern baldness by making key lifestyle/dietary choices. Or possibly by getting underlying conditions looked at (I'm fairly sure, I just can't think of examples off-hand).
And then I though "well, if THOSE things can trigger and later reverse male pattern baldness.. then surely other factors can too?".
That's why I find it fascinating that guys with male pattern baldness are apparently often deficient in certain things. What if different people just have different triggers and it's just about finding the right one for the right person? I mean why not? If a gluten allergy can trigger it such as in Brains' case, why not a severe lack of something subtle, but commonly connected with the condition?
Don't you think it would be wonderful if you could test someone and just say "the trigger is this..." and then treat THAT. Then that would be it, one treatment and done!
And yes there may still be a group left over after all this with follicles that are just "very sensitive" but surely a good goal is to make that group as small as possible, to outline as many contributing factors as possible and tackle them?
Who knows

But I am hopeful and thoughtful!
EDIT -- Additionally, when Brian S said that hair loss was like a response to something being wrong, like pain, I was like.. hmm. I don't quite know if that's true for everyone... (because so many people seem to just lose hair regardless of health).
But like.. hmm. Again, what about VERY subtle triggers? I mean for me I looked into my health and discovered I have many, many signs of hypothyroid (it's looking pretty indicative at the moment, even the blood results), and also mild anemia because I wasn't eating enough red meat (or rather ANY red meat). So, obviously it's too soon to claim that my hair loss and skin change were like "symptoms", but at this point it's not something I am ruling out.
