You're right that trolls can be ruthless and that they are abundant- throughout the internet, but there are also kind and wonderful people out there. It doesn't mean you need to live in fear of them or behave meekly online to "protect" yourself.
Online harassment almost never effect small / smaller creators and much less people in artistic communities. And as you said if someone was looking to harass someone they would say anything, in that instance having your face out there doesn't change much.
I really do understand your concern, but I think we're at a point in time where the internet being viewed as a horrible, scary place is a stereo-type that needs to be seen less of.