In comparison, the UK has a proven track record of standing up to the US on similar issues, given that it demanded the return of its citizens from gitmo. If extradition was requested in the UK, from past experience Assange would at least have a chance to fight it in the courts, instead of being unceremoniously handed over.
It's disgusting shit alright, but that won't happen to Julian Assange. Never ever. That's completely ridicoulos.
No one inside the Swedish government can or will want to pull something like this with Assange. I'm not sure how you can even begin to believe that.
Complying with a morally questionable extradition order is a little different...
Why not? They hate the guy. Can he really bet his life that they wouldn't go "oops, it happened again."? The fact that they've done this before makes it far more likely that they will do it again. That's how track records work.
As someone else said on this issue: it's safe for you to say 'it wouldn't happen'. If you're wrong, nothing happens to you. You get to shrug and say 'hey, I was wrong', and then only if you're feeling magnanimous.
And even then, even if Sweden were to do it by the book, it may just be that it's easier to fight extradition in the UK than in Sweden, just like certain courts are more favourable to business in the US.