1. Somebody wondered if there is room to be lenient when declining a handshake causes embarrassment to the woman involved. I happen to think that there is no real embarrassment involved – there may be scorn, derision, perhaps anger, but very rarely true shame. But if there would be a situation of embarrassment – why does ????????? ?????? take precedence over ????????? ?????? ?????
2. Regarding what you quoted from R’ Menashe Klien that it is assur even though it isn’t derech chiba – don’t the poskim who asser handshakes take on that it is considered derech chiba?