What does the congregational greeting time feel like to a visitor?

It has certainly caught on, some where near the start of the worship service, everyone turns around, shakes hands, says hello and a little hugging spreads across the room. This effort is aimed at making everyone feel welcome and demonstrate that "We are a friendly church."
No doubt that we church folks like it (well some do), but what does it really say to visitors.
I have made a point of watching folks that I suspected were visitors in churches. I also get to experience it first hand as I am in a different church almost every Sunday.
Here is what I see. A sort of glazed, protective look comes on their face as they try to figure out exactly what to expect. Far too many times I watch them stand as they get the obligatory shake from some, but are by passed as some one reaches by them to greet what is evidently a dear friend. Trust me, nothing makes you want to get out of a place more than those awkward few minutes.
The real thought that goes through visitors minds is, "Why is it that I sat here for five minutes on the pew before the service started and everyone passed by me or would not even look at me, and now they are told to "make me feel welcome.?"
Now don't get me wrong, I think shaking hands, hugging, etc. is very vital to public worship, but I think it would communicate what we really want it to if we taught our people not to have to be told to do so. If we helped them understand how very important that it is to not let a visitor sit alone or sense that the "friendliness" is not genuine.
Maybe it might be worth while to think through how you can get your congregation to understand how they can help prepare for worship as they use the pre-service time to ease the anxiety of visitors by paying attention to them.

Does the leader go first?

What is it the Pastor preacher types really conceive to happen in the lives of those in their congregations? I suspect there is probably a gap between the theoretical and real here. But from what I seem to hear what many want is better church support, more faithful attendance, an up swing in their giving and probably general all around, more commitment.
I conclude that from the newsletters I read, sermons I hear and discussions. But in the ideal we will say that we want people to be winning people to Jesus, making disciples and worshipping God.
My question is where do they learn? So my challenge to pastors is this: before you preach your next sermon on evangelism, tellme the name of the person that you are currently engaging in conversation with the end purpose of telling the story of Jesus' act of love? Tell me the name of the person that you are currently engaged with in one on one discipleship. The person that you are teaching how to read and understand the scripture, that you are walking alongside as you grow in spiritual devotion. If you can't tell me a name, then hold off on the sermon until you can.
You see I am growingly convinced that we have come to believe that churches evangelize and disciple when they do not. Disciples evangelize and disciple, Churches equip disciples. The pastor, as leader must go first.