I agree that were ever or what ever type of tribe is being lead, the process of recruitment should no differ... as Nauz says the requirements will differ... the average standard of players seems to drop from one world to the next, but that is a side point...
IMO when recruiting on the rim, it's much more about looking at potential, willingness to listen and to learn, then it is about the actual standard of an account... if the activity and determination is there, anyone can be taught how to build a top 20 account... though I'm not sure how you sit an application to a pre-made?... surely that is much more about reputation... recruitment also has to match leadership style, not all leaders have the same style of leading, but all can be effective with the right recruitment... and the reverse that not all top player will respond to all types of leadership style... which therefore comes back to the ability of the leader to be consistent in both their approach and their treatment of individual tribe members...
I too have been refused account sits on the basis that I will use the sit to abuse the account or to gleam information to enable the player to be rimmed... in my view, if you don't trust your future leader to sit your account, then why are you applying to that tribe?...
There will always be players that cheat, or abuse sits, or any other of the ways to play the game 'unfairly'... there are rules and a reporting system... the more players that use it to report others for cheating, the less likely cheaters will play the game... (though a better attitude from ingame mods wouldn't go a miss (yes a generalisation, not all are bad))...
I agree that loyalty is earn't, though it should be demanded and expected the leader should understand that they have to earn it... loyalty also has to be shown by a leader, yes the fat should be trimmed, but in most circumstances the fat should be given the opportunity to see if a diet works (ignoring the obvious behaviour that demands an instant trim without further discussion)...
Too often the average player will judge a tribe on it's points/rank alone... in my experience you get a lot less fat clogging up your inbox when leading a rim tribe of 3 players ranked 150th then you do once the tribe start climbing the rankings...
It would be interesting to see Nauz lead a tribe under a alias IGN where no one knew it was you... start wherever/whenever and build the tribe without your reputation making it a tribe to be a member off... I know you don't claim to be a great leader, it may well improve your leadership... every new player that joins the game willing to listen, learn, improve and enjoy the game deserves to be lead by someone will help them achieve that as I'm sure 99% of top players can remember the leaders that taught them and help them learn how to play and enjoy the game... I happily admit that if it wasn't for TFF rimming me on W3 then inviting me I wouldn't still be here (though some may say that would be an improvement)... and if it wasn't for Debs leading me for a short time on world 9, and axes rimming me I'd be an even worse player than I am... It wouldn't be fair unless I also mention the nameless that have given me the determination to play better in order to beat them...