This is the obvious answer for any rational observer.
Everyone seems to want to attribute it to some projected character fault in Musk, a chance to elevate their morality or intelligence higher than a famous rich guy.
Musks offer was strategically made before yearly earnings, when everyone posted bad earnings the market tanked.
> This is the obvious answer for any rational observer.
"Obvious" and "rational" in one sentence seem to me suspicious every time. I'm suspicious about "obvious" itself, because of my math education, but when combined with "rational" it is just too much for me.
The answer you refer is a simpliest one: it doesn't need any special assumptions of Musk's personality and it is built on a smallest possible sample of relevant facts. May be it means that it is an obvious answer? May be. But it doesn't mean that it closer to reality than more complex opinions relying on more data points and more complex models of Musk's personality, not just an assumption of his rationality.
On the contrary, explanations like the one by the GP seem to attribute way more superhuman character to Musk than who he is: just another person, and one with a pretty peculiar personality at that. His traits could have brought him spectacular success, but could also make him prone to eccentric episodes like this, especially as the years go by. I don’t see anything petty minded in just analyzing the situation in this way.
Everyone seems to want to attribute it to some projected character fault in Musk, a chance to elevate their morality or intelligence higher than a famous rich guy.
Musks offer was strategically made before yearly earnings, when everyone posted bad earnings the market tanked.