This is a very good point. Even though I personally wouldn't have made the choice Ashton made given how clear Matt was, I think it was still a perfectly valid, albeit risky AF choice and not stupid like many people in the Twitch chat were saying. It flows thematically given Ashton's backstory and now that risk has elevated that to even greater heights. Can you imagine how epic this moment will be once it gets animated?

The story of Campaign 3 is already chock full of characters taking insane risks to ascend to ever higher-levels of power. Now Ashton has had his turn and I think that's fuckin' epic.

It was certainly a cool moment. I think the cockiness in the delivery was what triggered plenty of folks. It was present in the 4-Sided Dive:

00:23:27 Ashley:"I still feel like, I mean, I still am curious if you’re supposed to keep the shards, both of 'em."
Taliesin:"I think I’m supposed to do whatever I damn well please with it, so..."
00:33:55 Tal:"And I’m relearning how to play a barbarian, and part of that is reminding myself that, like, physical damage is just part of it. Like, ‘Okay, this looks stupid, and then just kind of…’"
01:01:52 Tal:"They have a lot in common. A lot of family trauma. A lot of ego and personal grievance. A lot of un-dealt with emotional issues and a problem maintaining emotional issues. They also tend to think that they are the only adult in the room."

Then you have this question and somewhat prophetic answer about controversy:

01:41:51 Dani:“Ashton seems to be embracing a designation as a member of the Hishari. What do they think of the cult after learning more about it, particularly from the Ashari and now Evontra’vir?”
Tal:"Well, honestly, I feel like they’re a little biased and they’re ignoring most of the problematic issues with the uh… But, I will say, Im getting excited. I’m just…This was not a path I was expecting Matt to open up in this direction. And I like that it is mired in a lot of controversy."

The episode's dialogue had problematic phrases:

03:47:02 Ash: "I'm not taking it."
Marish: "No, you have to take it."
Tal: "No, she's taking it. It's going to be okay. She's just fucking with everybody. (gaslighting) It's going to be okay. We talked about- we talked about this."
Ash: "Okay. It's gonna be okay."
Tal: "It is. It's going to be okay."
03:50:05 Tal: "I know some of your whatever is bullshit. I know that you're worried about your friends. This is what I need. I need to save everybody. (Hero complex phrasing, then he corrects himself) We all need to save everybody. Right?"

03:07:50 Taliesin "Sometimes I think you're crazy on a level that I might be crazy on, too."
Ashley: "Oh, kind of like a, what did you say? Like you've always wanted a sister(hint#1)."
Tali: "I have always wanted family, and the few times I've tried, it's gone poorly. But and when I mean sister, I mean, clearly, you know, no, you're still hot and otherwise, and definitely, wow--"
Ashley: "Oh. I wasn't even talking about that (hint#2)."
Talies: "You were thinking it. You were thinking it loud enough that it was practically vibrating this bench." (this will not age well)
Ashley:"My heavens."
Taliesin:"And I trust you to help me make the right decision, and I hope you trust me to help make the right decision.

Even with all that said, the rest of the team just kinda watched it happen. There were plenty of opportunities for insight checks. That's what makes me think it's more planned out than we may realize, but the delivery issues remain, nonetheless.

Delilah and Laudna did some wrasslin'

Matt's also been using stat blocks relative to D&D just with name changes, so this is like a pop quiz for Matt's creativity. Making a hybrid like this has the potential to either underpower or overpower Ashton fairly easily. The homebrew community is salivating for that reveal, I betcha.