Popping a wheelie is not a regular thing for me -- except every night huffing up the steep driveway to my place in granny gear I often get a little lift. Maybe I was just in too low a gear to really stomp on the pedals? I did not have an especially heavy rear load, just my rack and kitty litter bucket holding a couple pounds of cargo (clothes, lock, etc).

Slamming the pedals and dropping a chain, that would be bad -- although I would expect that more from a dead stop rather than a quick acceleration without changing gear.

Thinking more about it, I think I should have just picked one: either get in line with the cars and fully take the lane (at the back, waiting my turn like everybody else), or split the lane, and stay clearly on the paint, not sprinting, but maintaining a smooth, predictable line that will not make drivers freak out.