I've interacted quite a bit with both Sam and Peter. Your characterization rings completely false. I've never gotten the least hint of the impression they were doing this for self-promotion, but rather to serve to fill an obvious vacuum, perhaps even with a degree of reluctance.

I remember being excited when the “dep committee” was formed, because (if I remember correctly) it was set up with the explicit blessing of the Go Team, with a Go Team Member on it to facilitate two-way communication.

Your characterizations are both inaccurate and ugly.