It seems to be about the amount of the virus. If you get a full splash of pure energetic sneeze, then without a mask, you are absorbing much of that. I think the mask helps, but still particles will get through and if your eyes are slightly above and wide open, then you are still getting hit with it.

That's a fair question about getting it, so I would argue that recovering from a small amount is probably easier than recovering from a heavy splash. It's like with a hangover, why drink 3 bottles of wine when a glass will suffice? Sure you can build up good tolerance with the heavy drinking, but it probably isn't much fun.

You never quite know, I may have had it and not known, but I certainly don't make any song or dance about being sicker than ever before like some as I have not been sick. I mentioned being around sick, sneezy people a lot and I haven't got sick, but that doesn't mean I have not been hit with their particles. It is just that my body did not respond to them.