I have read thru this entire thread, skimed some of the post that seemed to be going a little overboard with the whole 'what were you thinking, why would you ever do THAT' kind of comments, and have to commend the OP... I would hope that I would react as calmly as he did, I doubt I would have when I was his age. It is a fine line between being respectful and not makeing the encounter worse than it needs to be, and sticking to our rights, down to the letter of the law. I understand that volentarily giving them up is a bad thing, that it empowers the LEO involved, but there is some value in being willing to cooperate. Short term loss for a long term gain, as in being polite and respectful during the interaction the OP was telling us about will likely ease future events for him, he now has a reputation of polite and respectful, and will likely be under LESS scrutiny from LEO... it's about building good realationships.
I carry daily. I carry concealed. I read post on this fourum to gain knolage, and often get a good laugh. I carry concealed for personal and professional reasons. I am a local business owner, and in a small town, the last thing I need is for my business to suffer because I choose to open carry, and get the repuation of 'that gun nut'... out of respect, I conceal my weppon, carry it everywhere I can legelly do so, and am prepaired for the situation if I would need it. I realize that I lose the effect of a bad guy perhaps not being deterred if he were to see my weppon before hand, but at least I have it! Better than thoes who would ridicule me for having it in the first place, and not have their own as well, my parents are a good example. I am armed, and will be happy to do my part to protect as needed should the situation arrise, no matter who they are, or what their opinions are before hand.
We all have to look at the bigger picture... and it's a different picture for all of us. My bigger picture is not hurting my business reputation, so I/we am/are sucessful, but also being able to protect myself, my family, and friends as needed. If my work situation were diffrent, I would likely open carry... if other things, like my ablity to keep my job, make money and support my family were not adversly effected.
OP: Well done, carry as you see fit. Do what you are comfortable with, but carry. THAT is the main point, CARRY. We can all squabble about it, should have done this, should have done that, but in the end, we all are united by the fact that we all should carry, the best way we can.