You learn a lot more from the lows because it makes you pay attention to what you're doing.
It's more fun having him as everyman in the 25th Century. It is better to concentrate on what this planet will be like 500 years from now, and not be dealing with little aliens in space and all that related stuff.
I look for these qualities and characteristics in people. Honesty is number one, respect, and absolutely the third would have to be loyalty.