Never mind how good is the leader. I think you miss what, in my opinion, is the most relevant point: The collaboration phase doesn't change the splitting phase

Never mind how good is the leader. I think you miss what, in my opinion, is the most relevant point: The collaboration phase doesn't change the splitting phase, they are independent. That means that never mind what you did in the collaboration phase, what decide the result in the splitting phase, is your place in the hierarchy. Of course, that leads to those low in the hierarchy investing less, as they know that, never mind what they invest, what decide what they will get is the hierarchy that is already decided.