I think that's a very insightful observation of how they run these operations. They seed it (Satoshi "Central Intelligence" Nakamoto). Then let it become "a people's movement" (supported by placing some key, big-money supporters around it). Then once it's ripe, they do a corporate harvest and start running it full force. That way they can take most of the original full converts along with them because either they don't notice, or because they are making so much money that they don't care anymore.