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So this argument reduces to: “People might not understand a question which is important that they understand. So let’s just not ask them in case they misunderstand and assume they answer in a way that is beneficial to us.”

Does that sound right?

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Not at all. I didn’t suggest any alternative. Given the controversy, I’m not sure there’s a better one.

But you might compare to what browsers do these days for visiting websites with fishy-looking certificates. They don’t just put up a dialog, they heavily discourage it, because the assumption is that many users would say “yes” just to get rid of the dialog.

And with the vastly-majority of sites now using HTTPS certificates, the "invalid SSL certificate" page has become exceptional enough to have me actually read the "why" is the browser complaining so much, instead of just clicking on the "eh, whatever, I know the risk, drive me in!" button, which I would have clicked without remorse 15-20 years ago.

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