I always split 10s and double soft 20 when I should. I often do when I shouldn't (at low bets) too.
The key is, you want casinos to know, and be comfortable with, the fact that you're doing these moves to be a crazy gambler, not to be smart. A short time ago I had the floor intervene when I had 20 vs. 6. Dealer didn't wait for my signal and flipped hole card for 16 when I was putting out my split bet. He said something along the lines of "let him split em, he does that all the time." This was a sizable bet mind you, against a known 16.
If you're too scared to make some of the less conventional plays, don't play. For instance, almost every time I have ever surrendered 17 v A, the dealer made higher than 17. That's a lot of half bets.