doesn’t act like a terminator during beginning of phone booth scene

It is kinda strange how he lightly taps the car with his hand after parking it, which is very un-robot-like.

I think the biggest issue is when he's riding on the hood of the car and makes that wincing face right before punching through the windshield. You'd think an emotionless cyborg would not be too concerned with hurting himself enough to make a face, unless that's all "part of the act".

It's also strange that he doesn't just immediately kill Rick Rossovich when fist-fighting him in the bedroom, but throws him around a whole lot. We all know he could have just insta-killed him just like he did earlier with Brian Thompson.

It's a great film, far superior to T2 but yes, this is a poor scene. Probably the worst one in it. I'd be curious as to when it was shot. It looks like Schwarzenegger's first scene judging by how less robot-like he's acting compared to the other scenes.

who gives a shit? why do people pick apart movies so surgically?
movies are hard to make. ALWAYS issues, holes, imperfections, continuity etc

Go back to eating your rats and shut the fuck up.