I have a part of my family that lived in pretty unstable foreign countries, and they were more than happy of being french when problems occurred because your country will make sure you're safe, so it's a little benefit (plus having one of the best passport in the world).

But I find it strange that you don't have a "citizen abroad" representative, I don't know how many of US citizen live abroad but since, as you say it, you pay taxes you should have some representation. Here in France we have 11 representative for expatriates and I always thought it would be the same anywhere.