Many people are already highly critical of Russia (see, for example, yourself); what could Snowden add to that, and would it be worth the cost? Before Snowden'

Many people are already highly critical of Russia (see, for example, yourself); what could Snowden add to that, and would it be worth the cost? Before Snowden's leaks, those critical of the NSA could be shrugged off as paranoid tinfoil hats; Snowden not only brought that criticism into the public light, but provided hard evidence to back it up. That was a great contribution, and one he thought was worth the (also great) cost.