Keep it up phoenix (in more ways than one
)
The point is, you are right, the masses generally lack manners which is why you see the low classes Chinese people spitting all over the place and sneezing like its for show but just note, that as foreigner you are being watched and I feel whenever I'm in China or even Asia generally that its "REALLY" important to set an example and say: "Look we are developed, we are sophisticated and this how a person should act".
I do the same especially for the elderly but really for anyone, if anything then just out of basic respect for fellow human being.
That said, I once was standing on a train platform in China heading for work and this guy put his thumb up and I thought he was saying "yeah cool awesome" kinda thing and I walked a bit closer because I thought he was saying something. Then his thumb went to his left nostril and he blew the longest string out the right nostril right in front of me..... it was disgusting.