I've always carried, long before I got into police work, even before I was of age (if there was an age back then).
I never "accidently" got caught. Twice as a kid I was stopped and the officer(s) stopping me took my gun after I told them I had it. Unloaded it and returned it after I was checked out. Both times I was in HS, where I rode my bike (motor cycle) from Oregon to Arkansas to spend the summer with my mother. That was before people were afraid of guns and it seemed no big deal to the officers who checked me out, (mainly to see if I was a run-a-way).
In my department we had home cars which we were expected to use whenever possible, even our private activities. I assumed that if people saw you driving a police car, even in plain cloths, they would think you are armed.
Since I retired I pocket carry a J frame and never had anyone notice that I know of.
Its hard to determine if one is pocket carrying (in my jeans pocket). We (wife and I) are into square dancing, there too I carry. I had two women whom we've been dancing with for over 10 years attend my Ladies SD class, it wasn't until they attended the class that they had any idea I carried.
My own step daughter who's know me her whole life came over wanting me to help her to learn to shoot her new pistol. I tried to tell her about the benefits of a laser sight on her pistol for dry firing. I pulled my 642 out of my pocket for her to try. She said, "I didn't know you carried that". My then teenage grand daughter laughed and said "mom, he's been carrying that every since I can remember" My granddaughter and I were pretty close and have had several road and hunting trips together. She's seen me use my revolver to finish off critters we had downed.
A couple years ago, I had to make a quite trip to Portland for a funeral. I didn't want to fool with the Airlines so I had daughter bring a spare when she picked me up at the airport. She brought a Sig belonging to my son for me to carry while in Portland.
I'm not use to carrying such a large heavy pistol on my belt and was concerned about it being seen. My son ( A fed cop) told me something I knew but didn't think about. He said most people are so 'self absorbed in their own doings they wouldn't notice if you carried a bowling ball under your shirt. If the tip of the holster stuck out below your shirt, people would just assume it was a cell phone holder.
I think he was right, I did notice walking around a large mall in Portland that many people hand cellphone holders sticking out from under their shirts.
But I still pocket carry and just don't worry about it. Its secure and almost impossible to detect. I get more of an imprint in my other pocket where I carry my pocket knife, keys, change, etc.
I believe open carry should be legal, but not necessary. Guess it depends on where you live. I was at the Texas Road house in Rapid City and saw a guy open carrying a med. large semi. He was setting at his table eating dinner, the place was crowded and no one seemed to notice or cared.