I like the AFX helmet in flat black. Some half and open face helmets have a loop or snap on the back to hold the goggle's strap. This is a nice feature.

These goggles offer better peripheral vision and less bulky styling: http://www.classicgoggles.com/goggle...y_Code=ref4601

 

When helmet use was a choice and not a political point, half helmets were for cops. The guys that wanted to wear a helmet normally wore a 3/4 helmet. What we used to call a "jet fighter" type helmet. We all wanted to look like the racers, so a 3/4 helmet with duct tape around the edges of the shield was just the ticket, for those that wanted to wear a helmet. Mandatory helmet laws in the late '60s changed all that.

 

Going from a full-face to a half-helmet will be a slight culture shock for you. You'll find out about the sand blowing out of dump trucks ahead and get a more intimate aquaintence with the bugs that used to be all over your windshield. Goggles are a lot harder to defog than a face shield. Other than that, as long as you are making a conscious choice to give up protection for style, it's all up to you. Personally, I do switch between the two depending on weather. I suppose the trade-off is between contact with the ride and contact with the road.