While I agree that mastering the use of "ah bon" might help non-native speakers, using it too often will make you look like a retard who can't say anything else.
As for body language, I personally think that it conveys no more than 5% of the meaning in a conversation. What one wears is actually more important (maybe 10 to 20%). The occasional "ah bon" doesn't exceed 2 or 3% of the information exchanged in a conversation, which leaves over 70% for the actual words.
French speakers are in fact very fussy about words and grammatical structures. It is very common (probably more than in any other culture) to be scolded in public, even by strangers, for not using a word, a tense, or an expression properly. That even happens in TV debates. The French will also fuss about the way you expressed an idea, and even if they understand what you mean, they will argue your point just on the way you explained it. This is certainly due to the rigid French education system regarding the teaching of French language (to native speakers).
A famous joke about the French is that had Shakespeare been a Frenchman, he would have said "To be or not to be, this is the question, but the question is badly formulated."
I mean, that's no wonder that the French are so intolerant about the mistakes and imperfections of non-native speakers. I confirm it as a native French speaker who has learnt many languages and lived in many countries. Nowhere else on earth have I seen people laughing at or discouraging people trying to speak the local language than in French-speaking Europe. Belgium is a good example. The country is about 2/3 Dutch speaking and 1/3 French speaking, but the French often make fun of Dutch speakers' accent or small mistakes, even when their French is almost perfect. And French speakers more often than not cannot speak Dutch. No wonder that the Flemings want their independence ! Yet I have found the French to be even more intolerant, justly because they were not educated in a bilingual country.
So I am quite revolted when I read in this article that the author says :
It may seem true on a superficial level, because many French speakers are too hypocritical to just tell people to their face that their accent or grammar suck. But many of them will behind your back, and if they don't, most will still think it.
It's fairly normal as the French government has tried hard to erradicate local accents in French so that everybody speaks perfect Parisian French everywhere in the country (at least in the northern half). Generations of French people were told that there was only ONE right pronuciation, and were made fun of at school if they spoke in a regional accent. This is less the case in Belgium though (only elitist school scorn regional accents), and the French often make fun of what they call the "Belgian accent" (in fact the Dutch accent in French, typical also among some native French speakers in Brussels). The Quebecois are always laughed at for their accent. If the French laugh even at other native French speakers, how could they not laugh at non native speakers with an even stronger accent ?
I strongly disagree. The French, like other Latins, like to speak as much as possible and even parler pour ne rien dire ("speak to say nothing") as we say in French. Just listen a debate on French TV to be convinced that the French can stop talking, even when they should or are told to. The Japanese on the other do try hard to be as quiet and concise as possible.
I don't care if people laugh behind my back, as long as they understand what I'm saying. Although I agree it's not very nice to be like that.
I think it's a common misconception that 'even native speakers don't use exactly correct grammar all the time!'... people just say it to encourage learners. It could be said about any language.
When I use incorrect grammar in English, I just laugh at myself first before anyone else does.
The boy next to me in class got an 'A' grade for his French oral exam, but he had a really southern accent. Not that it bothers me his accent at all, but I found it kind of inharmonious somehow, I was somehow surprised he got the top grade without having 'standard' accent, although as long as it is understandable... My mum's accent is good but sometimes a bit harsh and that makes some things a little bit difficult to understand (especially when vowel sounds get a bit 'English' ).
I suppose the idea is for people to be understood by everyone but I still think it's a bad idea for regional accents to 'disappear'
How much French do you need to know to live in France ?
It could be said about any language. 
My mum's accent is good but sometimes a bit harsh and that makes some things a little bit difficult to understand (especially when vowel sounds get a bit 'English' 
).
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