For example, some of us here look very much like we didnt grow up in an Iowa cornfield and have genuine concern that one negative interaction is going to result in being roughed up by untrained ICE agents at best and tossed into jail or worse.

Do we just get used to the idea of carrying our passport at all times? Is an ICE agent authorized to demand it and take it from us "for checking", say?

Bar two pieces of fragile paper - a passport and a naturalization certificate - it's not obvious that a citizen is a citizen.

REAL-ID only proves that the holder had legal presence at the time of issue, not that the holder maintains legal presence at the point of presenting it to the ICE officer. For example, holders of Temporary Protected Status would have been here perfectly legally and been able to get and hold a REAL ID. But their status has just been revoked. So an ICE officer could still refuse to accept it as proof of legal status.

I'd suggest also applying for a Passport Card, you can keep it in your wallet.