seems plausible 

and besides kompromat, it could be a "one of us" effect, like how if you show your dark side some people will actually trust you more

More and more, I also suspect there's a more explicit screening mechanism that selects for these types: i.e. potential candidates are put into compromising positions and only those who are successfully compromised receive the support needed to get into or stay in power.

Undisciplined

Yes, I think there is. Those of us opposed to centralizing power usually see this and its central to our belief. That power attracts the worst people. You can't eliminate them really but only diluting the power seems sane to me.