There are places I've lived in the hils of Virginia that I'm not sure I'd bike in for the same reasons, though I'd probably get out and see if taking my lane helped because some of them don't have much traffic at all.

But... either in or out, you should "just do it." (I thought of that before NIke did. It even works for me sometimes.)

and yes, riding in the rain is FUN ... but it was late at night, low traffic, and I was lit up like a Christmas Tree.