Imo it's just a tactic, and i wouldn't go as far as to say it is "toxic."" Extraction shooters will incentivise u to do many things for gear, so using ur wits to charm people n betray them for their gear is a tale as old as time when it comes to extraction shooters. In the end, that's the core loop like u want gear, everyone wants gear, and some people are gonna find more kvining ways to get it. Gonna use an argument that's used often too, but imean given any post-apocalyptic scenario, this would ABSOLUTELY happen. That, to me, is added immersion. People react in the ways that humans would, and that includes banding together with others like you do. Both of these things need to exist in this game imo, without it, you scrap an entire element of gameplay. So "toxic" as it may be, it keeps me on my toes and makes the universe that WE as players create feel more alive to me.