In smoke signals the optimal strategy was to just make sure your own tribe goes to lylo and then start playing mafia from there
But it was also mathematically extremely likely the scum was distributed across the other 2 tribes, so it was correct in the game context also to keep my tribe alive
The path I took was likely town's best (or only) shot at a win.
The takeaway from Smoke Signals was the opposite of what you suggested in the game: The reactionary players turned out to be mafia, and everyone who initiated a tribe was town. Again, initiation is strongly aligned with town in most games.
That would be reactionary from me. Me declining is initiative of my own. That's the reason jdance could be scum -- he just went along with JCrispy's kill.