> Taking up the lane at the intersection is unrealistic in a lot of city scenarios, nobody I know advocates for getting in front of cars in the crosswalk or waiting in the middle of a long line of stopped cars at a red light.

My understanding is that taking the lane at an intersection is often recommended, and some cities create special "bike box" infrastructure to encourage cyclists to do that, though few do.

I wouldn't recommend blocking the crosswalk, but my experience getting in a long line of cars is good.