The overhead view may be instructive.
Point of contact on Dean's client replay
I'm not seeing contact there.
Point of contact on Server replay
Nor there.
...It is fairly clear that it is the collision box that takes hold here...
What does that even mean?
...I didn't (and don't) have a problem with being bumped off...
My replay shows no contact between our cars. The server replay shows no contact between our cars. Your car does something quite strange AFTER I've passed you, when our cars are further apart than at the supposed "contact" point you identify above. How am I responsible for that?
...it happens in online racing but a little more mutual respect would be appreciated...
Telling someone what they did wrong (and you did, IMO, you and your car had no business being in that section of track at all, and sure as heck not at 60mph off the pace) in the hopes that it will help them to improve
is respect.
As far as the on-track respect goes, "I paid you as much respect as someone who is a full minute behind their nearest competitor and is going a lap down is due from someone who's in the lead draft pack on the final lap of a league race.", which, if you're a "serious" racer, you
have to agree is little to none, a "sorry coming thru gaaaaaannnngggwaaaaayyyy" and I will not apologize for it.