Yep, the recumbent WTF-factor neatly changes the driver's priority on encountering a cyclist from "must get in front" to "must get a better look at that", which greatly improves their behaviour at junctions and pinch points.
Trikes have the added advantage of looking wide (even when they're not much wider than a MTB rider's elbows), so work as effective car repellent on the open road.
Some of the shouting gets tedious, but more than half of it is positive or good-natured if unoriginal humour, which is an improvement.
