LDS culture in which they may not want to participate.

They then probably feel the urge to counter that societal norm by responding in an opposite manner which seems extreme from an objective observer.

I must believe the folks that turn an eye to that somehow empathetically understand this desire to live completely free of societal LDS influence and give a longer leash than they would otherwise.

I think most rational people lie between the two extremes, LDS and non-LDS.