And I also take issue with your "motorists do their own disruption" point. I'm not saying they don't do it - I'm just asking how it is that the actions of somebody else affect whether a particular action by cyclists is right or wrong.
i've participated in CM and gotten virtually nothing but cheers and supportive honks from motorists and pedestrians... as well as a few curious people who asked for more info on why there was a party in the street.
i printed up flying to hand out to people with some info as well as signs so there was a message to the attention we were gathering.
so the media portrays it for sensationalism to sell more... so that means CM should stop? wouldn't it be better if more people got involved and we cleared up the false image in the media and got more people involved in cycling and more people thinking that maybe it is a waste to drive everywhere when cycling would be so much nicer...
of course maybe it's a lost cause, but maybe not. again, i hold a place like Portland as an example that all is not hopeless.