Of course, they're less likely to get angry with you if they just think you've gotten off Facebook entirely than if they think you're ignoring them while still accessible to them.
Unless they tag you in a post (in which case, you'd get a notification), I really don't know how many people respond to EVERY SINGLE post of EVERY SINGLE friend on facebook.
Are you aware that getting responses never is equivalent to being ignored, at least in most people's minds? On what planet do you live where people carry on a relationship that involves dead silence on one side?