I didn't say only guilty people settle... I said in the court of public opinion they look guilty. From a PR standpoint, it's better to flat out win a case and have the court vindicate you than it is to settle and pay off the alleged victim. Vince has the win here... he doesn't need to do a thing. The courts are doing it for him.
As far as Foley goes, there's no doubt that being hardcore helped his career. He took risks, and for him it paid off. But he's also arguably one of the best sports entertainers in the business due to his mic skills and humor. He's a guy that can be a draw without being hardcore, which is key. Bumps helped him get over, but he doesn't need to take bumps to keep himself over.
If every guy who wrestled that sort of style ended up a millionare because of it, then that's fine. You can clearly say it's worth it. Or even if you don't become a millionaire, it's your body and if you want to do that to yourself then I suppose that's fine too... as long as you're adult enough to accept the consequences and not expend someone else to pay the bill for your decisions.