Get this all the time.
Me: "excuse me please"
Pedestrian " why haven't you got a bell."
Me "I have, just seemed more polite to say excuse me. Oh well."
Or
Me: "ting a ling (on bell)"
Pedestrian: Feigns heart attack, jumps dramatically to side of path, gives a nasty silent glare.
Me: "oh well"
Yep; this pretty much sums up my experience on "shared" paths too. Today, on a canal tow-path on the outskirts of Glasgow, I belled a pedestrian from well back, to try and avoid the said feigned heart attack reaction. As I passed, she was muttering away to herself. I didn't catch the whole content, but I did pick up on the "f***ing bell" bit. You just can't win; so just like the OP, I will stop trying to please them all.
Worst of all are dog walkers who see you coming, then stand on one side of the path, while shouting at Fido to stay on the other side while cyclist is expected to pass between the two. Of course Fido usually decides to bolt towards its lord and master when cyclist is about 3 feet away. Would it not be easier for Fido's dopey owner to step to the same side of the path as the dog?