Joseph
” If the former is overwhelmingly doing one thing while the latter is overwhelmingly doing the opposite, I have full confidence in the way the Torah world is acting versus the others.”
EXACTLY! and many others feel the same way. This is what part of what drives the groupthink I mentioned above.
Though I do question your assumption. I have heard many shmussen over the years that we our decorum in shul is lacking and we should take a page from the Goyim and conservative/reform how they behave in their sanctuary.
Are you saying that if we talk in shul more than they talk in their sanctuary we should continue talking?