Yes! So many people think because they are meek, everyone shall be meek, yet they are not the ones that achieve high performance. You might not be compatible with lower levels of performance when there are titles and honors given for meekly punching a ticket long enough and vis versa. I think he did exactly the right thing and would encourage others to do the same if an environment is compressing their thought and expression. Find your space, your people, and be great.
My suggestion to them is to start their own business or find one to work for (with a willing owner) that needs its core rocked or is full of straight-talkers.
We shouldn't typecast ourselves for a paycheck of it leads to misery.