>and getting overly close to the car in front (closing the gap) isn't going to make a difference either.

I'm going to have to disagree. It clearly makes a difference based on OP making a whole post about it. OP appears to understand the crystal-clear message too, but chose to not help the person behind, but hinder. That was not the front car's decision. People tend to become impatient if they sense incompetence, that is half the issue here. If OP had narrowed the gap with the front car, there is a possibility they would not have been followed so closely to begin with.