Hard riding no saddles or stirrups

[Dan Diffendale]

Charges spent both man and horse, and considering cavalry was drawn from the wealthier aspects of society, it's unlikely the Romans would send their richest and most influential citizens on a suicide charge directly into enemy infantry.

True for the Early Republic, but what about allied cavalry? Perhaps the Romans weren't so careful with them? Seriously, though, I have to agree that this would not have been good use of resources, but tha doesn't mean it wasn't done.

This is one of those cases where it's useful to step back and consider whether you're coming at the question from a modern or ancient perspective. There are certainly Roman examples of the richest and most influential citizens going on suicidal charges directly into enemy infantry.

As an example of a (semi-?)mythological precedent, consider the story of M Curtius: a chasm opened in the Forum, and could only be closed if the Romans sent that which they valued most into the pit. No amount of valuables could close it; only when the patrician Marcus Curtius mounted his horse and rode in did the chasm close.

The ritual of devotio is precisely a suicide charge of a commander into the enemy, after having given himself over to the deities of the underworld in exchange for victory. Publius Decius Mus in 339 BCE and his son at Sentinum in 295 are the most famous examples.