I've just spent far too long reading this thread, and it's fascinating.
Congrats to CycleCopper for starting it off and being so honest - and calm in the face of some robust criticisim. You're clearly the kind of copper we need more of - open minded and willing to change your approach in the light of what you've learned.
You're not alone either - Mrs Uncle Phil and I were stopped last winter for using primary along a particularly dodgy stretch of road. The chap who stopped us was trying to advise us that it was safer to stick to the gutter, but did ask why we asds in the middle of the lane, holding up traffic?
I pointed out that we WERE traffic, and explained (briefly) why we were taking up the whole lane. He made to interrupt once, but heard me out. He didn't argue, or reply, but left us with a curt "well, go careful". I'd like to think he learned something that evening.