I think going team neutral is the best thing we can do. Team gridcoin is currently no #2 and with current projections we will be 1# in 2-3 months whether joining our team is mandatory or not. Here are all the positives I can think of:

1. Less hostility from other teams (as mentioned by OP)
2. More people who don't want to change teams will mine gridcoins
3. More people mining gridcoins = more exposure from word of mouth marketing= even more people hear about gridcoin= vicious cycle
4. The people on the other teams are already BOINCING with 0 % profit-driven motivation. They actually lose money due to electricity, equipment wear etc. I think these people are more likely to HODL compared to regular miners. HODLING helps with price. Higher price = more people joining gridcoin, more exposure, even more people joining, more BOINC research done blah blah blah
5. More miners = Less coins per miner, people will sell their coins for a higher price to cover their expenses etc etc Higher price, coin get's more popular, even more people join gridcoin, you get it..

TLDR; Regardless of the angle I try to see it, going team neutral will result in higher gridcoin prices + more people "mining" and thus doing scientific work and helping mankind progress.

I really can't think of ANY negatives. My only objection is that before going team neutral the devs must solve the problems we have had lately with accidental forks and the superblock issue.

P.S. Shared on ann & reddit