I believe that you are incorrect, @jrkirby. Unless they are a leader, those that agree with the majority are merely a voice among the crowd -- unlikely to be up-voted and thereby rewarded. On the other hand, those who speak well for a minority point of view that feels under-represented are likely to be rewarded consistently by those holding that view. Further, if the larger community members value diversity (which a number of them have clearly stated that they do) and act based upon that value, the potential rewards for well-reasoned diverse thought are higher than those for conformity.