I have seen videos of fights of people grabbing the small part of the tie and pulling on it, yeah it's not tailor made for choking but it does cinch up when you pull it. One such video a guy was doing that and the choked guy head butted him, took care of that problem.

Still though, it's a vulnerability, and there is no legitimate reason to wear it. Now you want to talk about wearing chains, I would agree they are too, jewelry is a waste and vanity and often a vulnerability as far as I'm concerned, excepting wedding rings. Although one can argue it's a store of value you carry around in case you need to pay for something. Scarves are too that's right, as hankerchiefs are, but you aren't tying them around your neck they are just wrapped around.