My $0.42:
1. I would NEVER have done what you did. You never know if the enraged guy has a gun or weapon on him. Then again, I live in NJ, so it's almost expected that the folks with NY plates are carrying...
2. In the past, when I goofed and someone got their panties in a bunch due to my driving, I would simply hold my hands up, palms up and I would mouth the word, "Sorry" as he or she drove by. For the most part, that does the trick.
-Z