It's more about the combat model. Everyone is a fanatic who fights until death, despite any casualties their friends and allies have suffered. And weapons and other attacks are mostly harmless. They deal limited damage measured in hit points, which does not affect the combat effectiveness of the target, heals quickly, and does not leave any lasting effects.
In a different combat model, an equally unbalanced monster would avoid unnecessary fights agains groups of armed opponents. Not because it's afraid it would lose, but due to the risk of permanent injuries. Determined defenders could then try to take advantage of that behavior to drive the monster away.
Yup. Same reason I feel safe hiking in big cat territory. You look like a large predator. Only things that consider a large predator as possible prey will seek conflict--and most of the US has no such animal.
The cats know they would win, but a predator at our size range might injure them and keep them from getting their next meal. Thus it's virtually certain they will not attack--and the news supports this. People get hurt when the animal feels it needs to defend itself.
In a different combat model, an equally unbalanced monster would avoid unnecessary fights agains groups of armed opponents. Not because it's afraid it would lose, but due to the risk of permanent injuries. Determined defenders could then try to take advantage of that behavior to drive the monster away.