I think you're right on. Bismillah becomes just part of the cultural lexicon for Muslims and apparently non-Muslims who live amongst Muslims

If someone used it deliberately, invoking it's actual meaning vs just saying it out of habit, it would be a more impactful gesture. I can't judge which case this example is

Separately, my belief is that if Muslims truly want to stop people from inciting them, they need to ignore these acts

Of course, the governments and religious leaders are all for making a big deal of all this because it's a way to control people through their emotions