While it's hardly fair I have to agree. I'm acquainted with a few and they are generally cool people but part of the brony identity does seem to be tied directly to the stigma against them. I wonder if feeling like they have to hide it makes them more resistant to hiding it?

It's such a silly thing, but humans are animals and we have annoying or shitty things like pack/tribe mentalities.

From knowing these guys for so long, they try their absolute best not to hide it and go pretty far to show it off in a way that's not really in your face. Gotta hand it to them for sticking up for their interests considering how much negativity the crowd receives. That said, the friends I mentioned really, really dislike most other bronies for being consistently over the top.