I love test screenings. Some directors don't, I know. But I love it. I think it's because I come from the theatre and in the theatre, previews are where you really have to listen to the audience and really feel how they're responding. I found our test screenings incredibly useful.
If I put the script down more than once, there's a good chance that I probably don't want to play the part.
I have long since come to believe that people never mean half of what they say, and that it is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions.