I think the cynical take is important to take into account to the degree that it also captures important features of the incentive landscape you’re designing for. In the ideal case, the establishment lets you in because you give them some nice properties in the short term (better data on pandering for term politicians) while not diluting the influence you have in the longer term (eventually a change in the type of voting system that otherwise wouldn’t have happened, say).
I think the cynical take is important to take into account to the degree that it also captures important features of the incentive landscape you’re designing for. In the ideal case, the establishment lets you in because you give them some nice properties in the short term (better data on pandering for term politicians) while not diluting the influence you have in the longer term (eventually a change in the type of voting system that otherwise wouldn’t have happened, say).