Most of the self-described "radical centrists" I've met aren't attempting to perform any sort of ideological balancing act between left and right, it's just that they simultaneously hold a particular mix of ideas from both the liberal & conservative parties in such a way as to never be able to fully side with Republicans or Democrats. They find themselves split by a zig-zagging line across so many different issues that they must reject both major parties.
For example, someone who deeply supports abortion rights and LGBTQ marriage, but also feels strongly about the 2nd Amendment might describe themselves as a centrist. Those are all strongly held beliefs and none of them occupy any middle ground. It's not intellectually lazy or morally bankrupt to hold a mix of ideas that don't fit neatly into either major party.