Well, part of negotiating is presenting yourself accurately but in an appealing light, and letting compatibility determine the result. Which is part of why I think it's worth pulling up out of the offer/counteroffer and asking questions like, what's the BATNA. Whether W took the other job you found or is still looking, it sounds like W has a BATNA better than the offer at Nazareth. And Nazareth had a BATNA that was better than W. It sounds to me like it worked.
I hear what you are saying about conciliatory worm or kind of an asshole or both by turns. However, that is not how I generally perceive job apps, cover letters, etc. I tend to look at them in a more granular way: is that turn of phrase overused, if that claim is investigated will it hold up, has anything been left out that makes the case for this applicant getting this job OR is there stuff here that is irrelevant and distracting (or worse!) for this position. For me, job applications, resumes, CVs, etc. are rhetorical structures that must be sound and must support the desired goal. They may be well constructed or poorly constructed, but there isn't necessarily any worm or asshole-ishness, unless something really extreme is going on.
Re: YOU FOUND OUT WHAT HAPPENED!!! Yay!
I hear what you are saying about conciliatory worm or kind of an asshole or both by turns. However, that is not how I generally perceive job apps, cover letters, etc. I tend to look at them in a more granular way: is that turn of phrase overused, if that claim is investigated will it hold up, has anything been left out that makes the case for this applicant getting this job OR is there stuff here that is irrelevant and distracting (or worse!) for this position. For me, job applications, resumes, CVs, etc. are rhetorical structures that must be sound and must support the desired goal. They may be well constructed or poorly constructed, but there isn't necessarily any worm or asshole-ishness, unless something really extreme is going on.