The politics of losing

[SsSam]

A couple of thoughts.

I do agree that going AI with any hope left is not a good idea.
I do agree that I usually try to spite the person who knocked me out by dragging them down as far as I can.
Playing to win is a good idea, but ...

...but suppose I run into a couple of really good players and with 5 players left, I'm probably running 4th or 5th. We dogpile on the guy we thought was the leader and....

#1 Eliminate the leader completely, and when he is completely finished off the map dogpile again with the former 3-4-5 against the former #2?

#2 Knock the leader down to 2-3 and rethink the dogpile?

#3 Knock him down to 4-5 and have him join in against the former #2?

I guess I'm curious if so many players "never" concede, then how do your games ever end? I don't mean that in an inflammatory way, I'm honestly curious. I'm at turn 90 in a game and if we consistently choose #2 or #3, I could see this game going 200+ turns.