I agree with your last 2 statements. But you are right - you do have to work at it to get bit, or just have bad luck at the wrong time and at the wrong place.
One of the current theories about gators is that they are 'afraid' of humans because we are tall, compared to them, and they associate tallness with predators. If you do not look tall, they think you could be a food source. Supposedly, that's why young children and dogs walking along a lake or river are more at risk then adults. Or people sitting along a river bank or lake. And all bets are off when it gets close to dusk.
Anyone who has lived in Florida for any length of time probably has a few gator stories. Or you could just subscribe to the Orlando Sentinel or the Tampa Bay Times.
