> In the search for a single factor, groups of factors seem like invalid entries.
Grit is most certainly a group of factors.
Nobody is taking about free will or determinism. You are introducing that as a straw man.
We are not on the same page. Weights or not, you are advocating intentionally miss-attributing effects to causes that are under your control. Making reference to 'confusion' doesn't change that, and looks like another straw man.
Given that you advocate self-deception, your response seems consistent with your policy. I salute you for your consistency.
> Aggregate categories are invalid
In the search for a single factor, groups of factors seem like invalid entries.
Talking about the influence of chance on the outcome of a given set of circumstances in the universe, we're getting into free will / determinism here (and that's probably not going to be a terribly productive discussion) so I'll move on to your other point.
> I think it's harmful
I'll concede that in a vacuum you'd be right, but we're not in a vacuum. Making decisions based on factors you know about is different from consciously ignoring external factor outside your control or assuming that the factors you control are weighted more heavily. I think this conclusion of yours about my argument, though, is based on the "awareness" vs "control" confusion from above, so my overall conclusion is that we're on the same page.