...have some protagonist from a culture similar to ours who is thrust into another culture that is built on applying some principle to an extreme degree. What happens if businessmen, or Roman Catholics, or garbage collectors or ??? rearrange society to suit themselves? The thing about these stories is that they are written by people who have a political point to make, or more likely they just want to tell a story that will sell books. I don't think that we can mine them for lessons on how to live. Looking at puppeteers does not tell you what happens when you choose a herd-based lifestyle. It just tells you what Niven thought would make a cool story.

On the other hand, if we go Heinleinian, then maybe there's a chance I can hook up with a gorgeous young woman.