I don't like it personally but it depends on the context and the vehemence. Emotional poker never works out for me so I find it best to keep chat off. But if you use it as a tool like you suggest, and stay within the confines of chat Etiquette for the site I understand the use of it. As for as people targeting you after ? That depends, can you make yourself profitable in those situations? Are you creating enemies? You are already the villain to the rest of the players just because they want your chips, problem is you have no idea how many friends these people have or how your name gets passed around in other forums for being a "D" . So maybe you have a target on your back.
I have gotten into heated exchanges with people over the years and have no idea what impact that has had since I never really kept notes before or even tracked stats with a HUD. SO I couldn't tell you whom I antagonized or antagonized me.
I guess I don't see the point in making a target for myself even if its a remote possibility, anymore. But if someone else starts it and I am on the rare occasion see it I just put a note in the player name and move on. On the more rare occasion that I do engage with someone that has started it I usually come back with sarcasm and ridicule their play if I can. But usually it's laced with why is a Professional like yourself playing in such low stakes games??? Can you teach me how to play?? etc.
Anyway, the further I move away from the above drama the better my winrate