"[do] similar issues occur in flatter open-allocation style organizations?" YES, they do. The hive-mind of a group (even a flat leaderless one) many times lead

"[do] similar issues occur in flatter open-allocation style organizations?" YES, they do. The hive-mind of a group (even a flat leaderless one) many times leads the old members to reject new incoming members. The reasons being: To protect the group and its traditions and culture, and to prevent the group from undergoing unforseen negative changes due to an influx of new members, and to conserve hard-earned resources and rewards for themselves. I've seen this at companies, online communities, and immigration politics. Here's the thing, it's not necessarily a bad quality. There are many communities (and even countries) that failed to preserve themselves and lost the very thing that made them great. With absolutely no new members the group's ideas become stagnant. With too many new members the group is overwhelmed, distrust grows high, and the original traditions and culture are destroyed. So, all things in moderation I guess.