Charlie,
I cannot for the life of me figure out how your comment is responsive to Toi.
“Gedolim have sat next to women on subways in Europe and America for over a century.”
Have you seen this (Other than Avi Weiss)?
It is well known that R Shlomo Zalman Auerbach would stand up if a women sat next to him. (he did it in a respectful manner, none the less he would get up)