It's always nice to know there are considerate people. No one wants to annoy others but regardless of what we want to do we annoy other people all the time. I think it's part of the human experience and very hard to avoid. If you're riding on a sidewalk or bike path than you want to be more considerate and yield to pedestrians. That's because sidewalks and paved pathways are associated with pedestrian use. Since no large motor vehicles are riding on sidewalks and paths your need for bright lights is diminished. When riding paved paths I will usually use lower powered lights or point my bar lamp down more. If no one is walking ( riding ) toward me than I will adjust it back to it's more forward position. Admittedly, it is a real nuisance to go through all this but I will do it on paved pathways. ( one of the reasons I don't like to ride paved pathways at night )

Once you start riding on the road though all the rules change. Roads are where cars and other motorized vehicles rule. They use their lights whenever needed and never worry about what the pedestrians walking along the road think because if they don't use lights then they could kill someone. Once you take your bicycle and start riding on the road ( at dusk or night ) you need to be seen. Your increased need for visibility and safety while riding on a road takes priority over someones else's minor inconvenience if they just so happen to be walking along the same road. Now if you can dim your lamp without causing a danger to yourself ( or others ) as you approach a person walking along the road then more power to you. Just remember that they also will be dealing with all the car headlamps moving in the same direction as you as so in all likely-hood they probably won't even pay you any mind.