Assuming we pay off? You're also assuming that you're ahead here.
I'm not assuming I'm ahead. I think I'm likely ahead.

However, if called there is still a lot of money behind and we're now unlikely to feel good about our hand in a big pot with 2 streets to play.
True, which is why I posted the hand in the first place. Fortunately, checking behind if he checks the turn is an option. As you pointed out, this does leave us open to attack on the river, but as a way of controlling the pot it seems preferable to calling the flop, which leaves two villains drawing out on us instead of one.

I really don't mind a little uncertainty in a raised pot with a weak bet.
I don't either, but I think it comes down to which street we want that weakness to fall on.