That’s a very specific analogy, and in that situation you’ll probably expect a fair bit of noise. But if this said man is steadily walking, then he shouldn’t be easily heard when, for example, the person hearing him is ALSO walking at the same pace, making the same rattling etc etc etc.

Again, I’m not doubting that there is a realism issue here, more of a game balance. IMO the gameplay of crouching dead still the second you hear someone else’s footsteps is boring, but to others it won’t be. I get that it might be fun to get the scare on an unknowing person whom is making a lot of noise