I'd be wiser to spend my time worrying about how to avoid being struck by lightning.
Absolutely. While it was a great experience that made me think a little bit, cougars are kind of like worrying about meteors. If one hits you, you probably won't see it coming, and it will likely kill you very quickly. So why worry. They are just part of the landscape and should be respected and given their space. Look behind you once in awhile and you should be ok.
I seriously doubt I'll ever encounter an aggressive one. As I said, I work alone in the woods all the time (I'm a professional forester), and I hike all over the place, particularly in our wilderness area all the time. And this is the first I've seen in nine years. I consider myself lucky more than anything. They had almost become a myth in my mind despite the fact that I see their tracks everywhere in winter, and in the mud in spring time.
When I hike, I either carry a 3" SP101 or my XDs if I expect to encounter people at all. Both are plenty to stop a crazzy (my bigger fear) and both are plenty for a cat should the need arise. If I'll be off trail and expect no people, I open carry my FNP-45 or 1911. I come across a lot of tourists on the designated trails, and many of them would be uncomfortable with open carry. I don't much care if they like it or not, but I don't want the hassle of explaining why I carry. I hike to escape people, not encourage conversation.
The ranchers killed the local bear population decades ago, and wolves only show up now and then for the same reason.
I did run into a bobcat last year. I was scaling a deck of logs at a landing, and tagging it, and this critter came crawling out about six feet from me. It saw me, and crawled right back in. I just laughed and finished my work. I don't even consider them a threat.
I've nearly been run over by spooked elk. I've been bit by a dog. I've been charged by a whitetail buck. I've nearly been run over by fighting bucks in fall, and by spooked ones in summer. I've been chased by domestic cattle, and sent into the rocks by 2 bulls. And I had one jackass come up to me on his lawn mower with a shotgun in hand demanding to know what I was doing on his property. I wasn't on his property, and he was out of line. The judge thought so too.
I tell you, if you want an interesting career, be a forester. Boy I wish I could carry at work.