That's a good healthy response,
@mjr . Not paranoia then, perhaps just irrational feelings of persecution by motorists driving on the road behind you (as
@I like Skol has also suggested)?
My attitude is that I have to assume that those behind me on the road are rational human beings who nearly always behave reasonably. Anything else would be wearing. Sometimes they pass too close, sometimes they cut in a bit, but I don't know this until they done so; and then it's done (cue expletive; pedal on; consider if I can ride better to reduce even further the chances of it happening again). Have I made sure I've maximised my visibility to them? Yes: light or bright coloured clothing and, in poorer conditions, a rear flashing light, maybe with a steady light as well (certainly at night). Very occasionally (and I live in as rural part of the country as you, but in a 30,000 population town) I get a 'punishment pass' and that can be very aggravating, but rarely can one do anything about it even if you go down the whole road of headcams/rear facing cams to capture such very rare activity, which I think can be unhealthy too.
Where else have you seen these sort of "reasons against flashing lights"? You said: "and those are the reasons I've seen most commonly."