fold equity in small stakes???

keep reading books where they either mention "fold equity" by name or they at least say advantage of acting last and betting flop (continuation bet??) is your opponent(s) might fold.... but at the loose passive tables i generally play (BM or internet), it just seems like at least one opponent will play to the showdown. the only exception seems to be if a 3rd flush card hits on the river. sometimes they will all fold to a bet.

three questions from this:

1) do all books (i'd say even miller SSHE) give alot more credit to our opponents than those we actually face. SSHE is more geared towards low limit, but almost all other books seems to think 3 other players seeing flop is alot.

2) i've never really had the guts to try bluffing on the river when the 3rd flush card hits, even though the three times i hit a flush on the river (last time i played), i couldn't seem to get any action... anyone tried that bluff??? somewhat dangerous as someone else can easily have the flush.

3) do people find that weaker players are more likely to fold on the turn (when bet amount doubles) or on river when there are no other cards to come???... my experience is the river with no more cards... pretty funny, i got a negreanu comment the other day, "how can you fold so much pre-flop when you haven't even seen the cards??" LOL, pretty funny, daniel said he got that line alot in vancouver and ontario casinos.

thanks in advance for any responses!!!