I don't really understand why the story sorely needs those details. It seems like I would come to the same conclusion given any likely combination of answers to

I don't really understand why the story sorely needs those details. It seems like I would come to the same conclusion given any likely combination of answers to those questions. Even if his sunk cost was zero, it would not change my feelings about it at all. Also, if he's misrepresenting the truth in order to get people to donate to the American Cancer Society, that kind of sucks, but it's not that big of a deal to me.