Im looking for an answer other than "its badly written"
There must have been a reason why those thugs who ask for change for the oxygen machine get scared when they realise it is macleod
Why would they be scared of an old man?
Because he's important, so they think that if they beat him, or even kill him, they may have BIG problems with Shield Society, for example. Even though he didn't do anything anymore for them and just has an honorific title.
shareI got the impression that they new he was immortal and a fierce warrior which doesn't make much sense. His being rich and important wouldn't stop robbers/muggers. It would encourage them.