You are making some strong points which I will try to address as best I can.
The reference you cite above reminds me of the movie The Truman Show. Did you see it? Jim Carrey portrays an individual who has lived his entire life, unbeknownst to him, on a TV stage where he is the star attraction of a show. Over the course of the film, Jim becomes increasingly suspicious, finally making a break for what he believes may be freedom. After sailing into the edge of the set, Jim opens the door to the ourside world. Just as he is about to leave, the director intervenes verbally and tries to convince Jim to say. "It's all you know, Jim. The outside might be really bad compared to what you have here." Stuff like that. I think everybody in the theater was yelling to themselves, "Get the heck out of there!" I certainly was. Later, as I reflected on the movie, I wondered if, in real life, I had been given the same option, what would I have done? I'd like to think I'd have acted just like Carrey, but would I? He had a wife. What if hed'd had a baby? Would I have left that for complete uncertainty?
So, yes, I see your points. My answer is that those slaves weren't prepared to make the choice. Their answers were not unbiased. They were slanted by years of experience. I read of long term convicts who preferred to be in prison. Just saw a documentary where a bunch of murders broke out of prison, true story, and in the end, one guy just turned himself back in to the police. just couldn't take it on the outside. Many reasons, hounded by police looking for him, no food, no sleep, etc.
I don't accept those exception as valid responses to the situation I've posed. you may think I'm weasling out. We may agree to disagree at some point.
I read of long term convicts who preferred to be in prison."BROOKS WAS HERE" (Shawshank Redemption 1994)