The negative feedback I receive is very intense from this "small portion" of drivers. It is of the intensity that is memorable rather than forgetful. (seeing motorists do very strange and ackward things simply due to the presence of a cyclist is not somthing one simply ignores.

The flip side is that the negative feedback decreases when using bike lanes. This is not a recommendation of bike lanes, but simply the reality, and why cyclists may "retreat" to bike lanes or "find comfort" in them.

This harkens to what motorists believe. They see bike lanes, they believe bikes are OK on the road if contained in bike lanes.

Where bike lanes do not exist ('cause lets face it, BL do NOT exist everywhere) the motorists don't know how to respond to cyclists and therefore rely on their own misconceptions coupled with frustration. Hence negative feedback.

Of course the negative feedback goes to zero when sidewalk riding or simply not cycling... so one can "tune" their personal "acceptable level" of negative feedback to match their need for cycling.

This may be why cyclists like bike lanes, and indeed why so many utility cyclists in my area use sidewalks. This may also be why the uptake of vehicular cycling is so difficult for many... as they operate in a more vehicular manner, cyclists find more "static" and find they need to spend more energy on being assertive. Cyclists may find that situation "uncomfortable" and unfulfilling, based on not being treated "as the driver of a vehicle."

Now people have different personalities... and some folks may find that they enjoy this exchange for one reason or another...

The positive benefits of vehicular cycling may not be so obvious, therefore may not be balanced by positive feedback (which BTW tends to not be as great a modifier to behaviour as negative feedback... "sticks" tend to get more response than "carrots").