It's not a question of manipulativeness. A manipulative mind would recognize that this strategy is unlikely to have good results. I would guess that this is m

It's not a question of manipulativeness. A manipulative mind would recognize that this strategy is unlikely to have good results. I would guess that this is more about investors wanting to feel superior and have the founders coming to them begging for pennies and scraps now and then. People do so love high status.