Good topic, good discussion.
I would tend to lean towards GB knowingly deceiving. It is a ruse and they know it. At some point, they know it. There is a line that is crossed. They would have to embrace some sort of "GOD" complex....call it BTM syndrome (Better than Men)....to survive the daily grind.
The problem they can't escape in their ruse is that they are just men. When they play the "God" card and are wrong, they pull out the "just men" card, correct their error and go back to playing "God". The only way this would not be a major deception is if they presented the FDS for what it is and give the R&F the CHOICE to be guided by it or not. Instead they wield their "proper food" and demand that it is eaten and not questioned. The TRUTH is that there is a major cover up going on and the closer to the internal workings of the WTS one gets, the more aware of this they become. Self deception would work for awhile, but I can't buy that the hundreds involved in keeping the FDS viable are all insane enough to actually believe that it is okay.
They put on the facade with one another that they are doing it for the good of the sheep, yet what they are doing is peddling a LIE and calling it the TRUTH. They have to know that. Waiting for the end to come hoping it will happen before they get caught with their pants down.
Their motivation IMO is to cover their asses, and perhaps the asses that came before them.
wings