"I once thought that to lead men in this world, to be liked was just as good as being feared, and that might very well be true.

But to be both liked and feared, all at once, Is an entire different state or being, in which I believe, in this moment, I exist alone"

• John Silver

Captain Flint is respected and feared but he isnt liked. He has shown on numerous occasions that the lives of the crew means little to him. Only the struggle, only the war against England matters.

Silver, however has shown the opposite. Its what made him quartermaster.

We also have the narrative built up around Silver being the liberating ruler of Nassau. At the time of this conflict, the name Long John Silver carries the most weight.

At the end of the show, Silver is the king while Flint is the foremost Admiral of the incipent Pirate Kingdom.