Exactly - well put!
We live a couple of blocks from a main road, and you only hear the loud ones - mainly only at night.
The straight-out Harleys are the most ridiculous, no question; they're just daring the cops to pull 'em. And yes, the loud fours are just so obviously revving off their heads. The Dukes like ours are loud, no question, but it's a more mellow sound, unless someone's really being silly.
The other loud breed is the Moto/Motard singles. They do some silly revs/decibels over the humps in our street.
Bottom line is: too loud in the wrong place ruins it for everybody, as it justifies the legislation and dissipates whatever sympathy we might once have enjoyed.
I guess the loud Harleys need to make a fair bit of noise just to get them moving. At least ours can be ridden with subtle throttle and still go OK.