Doesn't this line of reasoning apply equally well to the person running what he/she wishes to be a collective effort? If so, it may cancel itself out.

Is the person who refrains from joining, doing so because he doesn't see the collective compromising enough with his aims, or because he doesn't see the collective compromising in general? (Or even as being a "collective"?)

I'm surprised to see you post this, Eliezer, because my recollection is that you recently said you don't want people to try to help you in your work, because only 1 in 100,000 is potentially useful, even supposing you could figure out a task for them to do.