That's... literally the opposite of holding a principle. They're doing a thing that they don't otherwise care about because it results in an advantage today. What happens when the money runs out? When the fad shifts? When someone offers them more money to do something that conflicts with this principle?
You hold a principle because you believe (logically, axiomatically, morally, etc.) that it is correct, regardless of all other incentives that might pull you towards or away from it.
If the only reason that someone claims to hold a principle is because you're paying them, they're not actually holding that principle.
> because it gives them an edge up on competition
That's... literally the opposite of holding a principle. They're doing a thing that they don't otherwise care about because it results in an advantage today. What happens when the money runs out? When the fad shifts? When someone offers them more money to do something that conflicts with this principle?
You hold a principle because you believe (logically, axiomatically, morally, etc.) that it is correct, regardless of all other incentives that might pull you towards or away from it.
If the only reason that someone claims to hold a principle is because you're paying them, they're not actually holding that principle.