Well said.
The commaradery didn't get me into the CFS but it has sure kept me in it. Moving to a new town (and brigade) it's a great way to meet new people, and feel accepted (feeling accepted is one of our basic needs, yep right alongside food and water). I was talking to someone not from CFS and she said to me, it's almos like a secret society that anyone can join. Taking her point, she meant that you can travel along and meet members and fit into a community because of it. Which i have found is so true.
On the point of ego's, well i guess that has to do with the culture that has developed within brigades. If you are new and move into that environment, then you either embrace it or move on. A little friendly rivalry is great, but when people start getting narky and saying we are better than you, or how come you got called to that and not us, its not fair, thats where someone needs to step in and say, well enough is enough. thats not how this works...