Like most or all of us, I do my best to pass. However, I have somewhat masculine facial features and I'm 6 foot three inches. I do the best I can and I think I sometimes even pass.
As good as I feel when I tell myself I pass as a GG, the wonderful feeling I get when I'm "read" as a crossdresser and given a smile of approval/appreciation just tops everything. I know I'm still in that stage of insecurity when a stranger's knowing smile and approval will make my week, or a stranger's glare of disapproval will send my confidence down the tubes. So perhaps I'm just addicted to approval.
Yet I feel that just being myself and being known and appreciated as myself without trying to appear as something I'm not is the ultimate goal of mine. When I don't try so hard to appear as a GG but relax and let it flow, I enjoy myself more. I will add, too, that I really admire those of us who go about in public as a mixture of male and female; they're just being themselves and it's just a different version of what I try to do.
I'd be interested in other's thoughts on this.