That's a reasonable take. I'm from a city, I have lived in this one for about 20 years. I've been noticing it a lot more recently so perhaps the person mentioning COVID had a point.

I still think the millisecond of eye contact communicates a lot and is worth it.

I'm a pedestrian often as well. I always try to make the eye contact.

Where I grew up people always crossed against the light. Maybe that has something to do with my expectations.