Hand I think I played well

[JTG51]

In fact, I felt the hand would be 3-4 way regardless of if I raised or not.

You say 34% of the table was seeing each flop, so on average 3 or 4 players were seeing each flop. So then, how can you also expect 3 or 4 players to see the flop after 5 have already folded and you raise one limper? That doesn't seem quite right to me.

So the raise is a bad move in this spot. Even if just one player calls after me and I'm in with 55 I'm in deep trouble 3-way and -EV on the play.

If you admit that seeing the flop 3 handed is "deep trouble", then why would you limp when you expect 3 or 4 to see the lfop? I know it's going to cost you one less small bet by limping (hopefully), but if it's a bad hand 3 or 4 ways, it's a bad hand 3 or 4 ways.

If I'm going to see a flop in an unfavorable situation, I'd rather see it with the momentum of being the aggressor.