Always_Ask_Questions,
“FWIW, I started avoiding crowded places and hugs last Purim”
Why on earth did you only start doing this last Purim, more than a year into the pandemic response?
“and a number of choshuve people tried to make a light joke of it or tried to kiss me in an embrace.”
You must to to a shul with some strange folks. I’ve never had someone try to kiss me in shul, nor have I seen anyone kiss anyone else. Pandemic or no pandemic. And strangely enough, in my shul people tend to be respectful of others’ comfort levels.
“I think we just deep down do not respect that Hashem continuously runs the world and we need to listen to his messages.”
It seems that you are the only person in the world who truly respects Hashem and understands His messages. Very lucky.