When we're in the City's, we get a lot of attention off people asking about the sport, the bikes etc and people seem genuinely interested. But round where I live, pretty rural area, no one really gives us a second glance, and if they do, all we get is: Vandals, you're ruining them walls, someone had to pay for that wall blah blah.... Then hassle off the police, Council etc...
But yeah, in General I'd say the perception was getting better.