That may hold for a certain class of human situations. However, User:alexflint's story indicates that User:alexflint did endure a gross cost [1] greater than what would have resulted from not applying filters for popularity. The alternative to allowing one to be influenced in this matter is not to impose an impermeable "clean room", but to simply avoid avoidable expenditures when the source of the bias is noticed.

[1] though as I've made clear, not necessarily exceeding the benefits to terminal values