Both groups were being funded for open-ended plans (in one case, a career transition, in the other “exploring EA field-building”), rather than a specific venture, hence the uncertainty.
“If you don’t want someone to do something” -->
This isn’t the case—if the funders hadn’t wanted the recipients to move forward, they wouldn’t have given funding. In that case, the funder offered to support a different plan than the one that was originally pitched, namely instead of a venture, a career transition.
“the uncertainty of what the people would do” -->
Both groups were being funded for open-ended plans (in one case, a career transition, in the other “exploring EA field-building”), rather than a specific venture, hence the uncertainty.
“If you don’t want someone to do something” -->
This isn’t the case—if the funders hadn’t wanted the recipients to move forward, they wouldn’t have given funding. In that case, the funder offered to support a different plan than the one that was originally pitched, namely instead of a venture, a career transition.