Hello Mariner 9! Delighted to know you....at a distance so to speak.
Glider pilots are far from eagle-eyed sky gods, but we do try to instill in training a strong sense of self preservation. Advantage of glider construction gives much better viz, absolutely necessary in sharing thermals. And we travel in swarms, like gnats, so usually impossible for ATC to distinguish or direct. As far as gliders having a right of way, we know all too well that we may not have been observed by the opposing aircraft.
But I fly (or used to fly before the old medical got folded up for good) spam cans as well. And will share with you the time I arrived at Ann Arbor Michigan Municipal Airport after flying from New Jersey....and quite tired, also no headset, trying to understand ATC in an overhead speaker with all that engine noise! Having landed at Ann Arbor, a controlled airport, was informed that the apron for parking and fuel was on the other side. So I taxied down to the end, had a jolly good look at the aircraft on approach, and I crossed over and shut down. Fuel chap says "Tower wants you to phone them right away!"
Oops. Says ATC," you crossed an active runway without permission!"
Said I," very sorry, very sorry, my misunderstanding. But I did have a jolly good lookout!"
After explaining the difficulty a tired pilot has understanding the overhead speaker after 3 hours airborne, I was forgiven and sent on my way.
Still think I was right to have a jolly good lookout before crossing, even if I had been mistaken to think ATC said to cross the active.