Absolutely ... and I think most Captains see things this way.

Once while trying to comply with traffic requirements we started to get a hint of hail in clear air at altitude while trying to split the difference between weather requirements and ATC requests. Told ATC we needed to clearance to come South on the upwind side of the weather. They said no, "there are F15's in the MOA" I replied "XXX Flight XXX, PAN PAN, PAN tell the F15's we are coming, turning to heading 210 ..." Never heard a word from the airline (a regional that was at war with it's pilots at the time) or the FAA. Being in control of our aircraft is no big deal, it is a job requirement.

I do solicit input from traffic ahead. There are times when you can't get a visual on the weather and radar does not provide a good enough picture of vertical development. Good to know what the rides are like and to what degree the cabin needs to be secured.

80KTS certainly had a good idea about going low. Radar works a whole lot better painting up than down. If circumstances permit, getting low and dodging the rain shafts sure beats slogging along at the top of the aircraft's performance through imbedded weather. Ice and turbulence can reduce the options available to mitigate threats.