I understand your concern for surprise. But there is another issue here; that of visibly exercising our right to carry so that the public never forgets.
Here in Connecticut we have a carry permit law which covers both concealed and open carry. Some here occasionally carry openly just to emphasize to everyone that we have that right. If we don’t, it’s easy to lose the right over time.
I’m glad others feel the way you do. But I’ll be the guy who pulls it out by surprise.
I OC whenever I can as we have a lot of NY/NJ transplants here in PA who not only bring their belongings when they move but also their warped ideas about guns.
Seeing guns in the hips of law abiding good people is the only way to change that misperception.
More gun owners need to OC IMO.
I live in CT and have never seen open carry.