If so, they are those who can afford to burn some status to avow it.

Sure, but you don't really think IQ and education have nothing to do with whether someone is an atheist, right?

Here is a question; are people among the cognitive and educational who have other status hits more or less likely to be an atheist? If you're right then men who are educated and have high IQs but are gay should be less likely to admit to atheism, yes?

... why? Some try what you suggest, but I hardly see it as an slam-dunk superior strategy.

The point isn't even whether one is better than the other (though it certainly seems plausible that a less radical, more comforting position made with a kinder, politer tone would do better). The point is people who try that strategy don't get book deals. They don't even get popular on the internet. And that is despite it probably being the more popular position over all. They don't get popular because the readership of pro-atheist arguments are people who already agree with the arguments. Remember this quote:

Why is it that few, if any, outsiders will be persuaded by Craig's apology? From the way he presents it, we get the impression that he thinks nobody who is informed, rational, and sincere could disagree with it...

You could replace "Craig" with Dawkins, Harris or Hitchens and no one would even notice.