Oddly enough, that is how I walk when I'm in town. I glance down alleys and side streets; evaluate people I'm approaching; use storefront windows to check six; listen for any rapid movements behind me; etc. Maybe it would've helped, maybe I'd end up unconscious on the street too. Increased situational awareness may or may not help, but it can't hurt.
No, I'm not paranoid and tense in town, I just view it as a game. It is amazing what you can pick up about people through observation and listening. Entertainment is where you find it.
Well said, and worth repeating to others. Sometimes the smallest things can tip the odds in your favor.