Are they wimps or am I barking mad?

I was reading the CBC forums today (Cascade Bicycle Club Forums for those outside of Seattle). There was a thread there from someone asking about a good route in the vicinity of my usual commute. I had been watching (and posting) to that thread for a while. People were vetoing several options because they involved a supposedly scary interchange (527/405), side roads where people are afraid of "hicks in full-size pick-ups" and other such terrors.

I've ridden all the options presented. None of them are really bad. Some are faster, some are more fun. None of them scare me.

As I looked between the lines, I noticed a couple of things and, as I am wont to do, came up with a theory.

I went through a few options first.
1) They are just being cautious because you can't be too careful (work with me here).
2) I'm a nutter who engages in reckless behavior (possible).
3) A combination of callousness and luck on my part has kept me from ever getting hit by a car.
4) A good portion of the Seattle cycling community are pussies.

Some of these ideas have a little merit, but just don't seem quite right.

My psych 101 idea is that riding a bike surrounded by cars makes people feel small and vulnerable. Insignificant.

Due to some defect in my psyche, I've never felt this way. Not in the middle of the ocean, not in the mountains, not in traffic. People who are more balanced than I might though. Where I just see cars and can assert myself in traffic, others see threats everywhere.

The hick in the pickup, the yuppie in the Lexus and the soccer mom in her van are all threats. Who knows when the ol' boy in the pick up will decide to fuck with you, or the hyper-aggro self-absorbed yuppie will force you off the road or the soccer mom will turn to smack her kids in the back seat, lose control of her vehicle and kill you.

Something about this whole situation seems so primal. Motorists are "them." They are unknowns. They are enemies.