A fundamental problem is that there seems to be a strong positive correlation between having interest in existential risk and having high functioning Aspergers' syndrome, and a strong negative correlation between having high functioning Aspergers' syndrome and having good marketing skills.

Couldn't this be corrected by hiring a Marketing firm? High Functioning Aspergers' can see the link from "hiring a Marketing firm" to "getting the public to believe nearly anything" is very strong and very reliable. It takes only a few tens of millions of dollars to convince the public to commit to billions of dollars in near-future losses (eg: tobacco industry, carbon polluters, election drives).

This may not be desirable, but it is a fact, and if a rational agent wants to win then s/he should accept the fact and design with it.