The 'fear should never win' line is an interesting one. Your position seems to be based on a fear to speak up if someone is doing something perceived to be wrong/disrespectful etc. Asking politely is a perfectly reasonable thing to do.
My position is one where we should respect each other and be a bit more tolerant of other people actions. I fully agree that politely asking would have been the best and sensible option.
The problem with today's society is that we are becoming more and more afraid to speak up, have an opinion, take responsibility, and indeed worry about people pulling a knife. We shouldn't live in fear that someone will attack us but we need to be mindful that it is possible. In contrast, we should be worried about eating an egg on a train in the fear that someone will abuse us for doing so.
Yes, there has to be some kind of balance. As to what that is, I just don't know.
On a side note. I was watching the tellybox a few weeks ago where this topic was discussed. Society has moved on, rightly or wrongly, in that people will now happily walk down the high street guzzling a large late whilst eating a burger. Years ago, eating in public would not be socially acceptable. There is clearly a clash as to what is socially acceptable.
I play trains on a regular basis. Eating an egg is the least of your worries. Take the vomit comet back from London of an evening and you will see what people are eating. Before, and after its goes in the body.