I have a feeling the law firm is in the driver's seat here. I'd assume they organized/selected the lead plaintiffs, so that gives them some selection control.

I have a feeling the law firm is in the driver's seat here. I'd assume they organized/selected the lead plaintiffs, so that gives them some selection control. Opting out individually is in no way, shape or form a substitute for negotiating a larger class action settlement. The whole point of class action is that there's strength in numbers. Even if you didn't care about "black marks", most individuals would not be able to bear the cost and risk of taking these guys to court.