Apart from the bit about paying road tax and insurance.
Zag, I have three vehicles in my garage, I pay plenty of VED. Most cyclists are car owners. Also there is no such thing as road tax, that was abolished in 1937, the roads are paid for by general taxation so even non-motorists are paying for the roads.
http://ipayroadtax.com Also the number uninsured and untaxed cars is simply shocking.
I am in complete agreement with you on red-light-jumping. I agree with you challenging the cyclist in your story, he needs to understand his actions are wrong.
I would like to see the police taking a zero tolerance approach on this, I would be happy to see offenders having their bikes confiscated and crushed. Do you know any motorists who would be willing to have reciprocal enforcement on motoring red light infringements?
We all have anecdotes, we could probably trade them
ad infinitum. Just this morning I was cycling my five-year-old to school. A woman in a Passat intimidated us into the kerb and rev'ed past us. It was hard to understand why because there was an obvious red light 50 metres ahead, so there was no point shouldering past us, but when she got to the light she occupied the whole ASL and bike lane. I would normally have let it pass, it happens all the time, but given that she had just pushed us out of the way to get there I pulled up alongside her and asked her if she knew ASLs are for bikes. She gave me the same blank look you experienced.
Like you say, all we need to do is obey the rules. I was obeying them, I would be happy if she did too.