of course – i always thought it was simply logistics. if you’re from out of town, smile and say good shabbos to all the jews, normal, can be done. (not only that, it’s more like greeting, “landsman”. but, if you live in -town, boruch Hashem, you couldn’t even carry on a conversation with someone else – you’d be non-stop saying good shabbos.
i truly don’t think there’s any deep dark secret.