And to be clear, I don't mean to offend anyone who advises the players in this way. I really just want to understand the reasoning behind it.
Why Wait to Vote in a Vote Chess Game?
The reason you wait is because sometimes the first person to look at the position will recommend a move and a few others may vote for it, and then someone else realizes that the move is bad or loses and finds a better one. Then it becomes a scramble to vote for the "correct" move. This just happened in a VC game I'm playing.
You're right that sometimes it just happens that the strongest player gets his way. Ideally, you get good discussion and then each player can vote on the move they think is best. Sometimes you don't get a consensus, especially in the opening when many lines/variations are playable.
I don't really agree with you about the "purpose" of VC. I don't think it's supposed to be a secret ballot type thing where each player simply votes for the move they like best and majority rules. It's supposed to be a collaborative effort where people communicate and then decide what's best. Sometimes everyone agrees, sometimes one person takes over, but hopefully you get good discussion about chess. The reason you wait until the end to vote is to get everyone's ideas so you can make the most informed choice possible.
Sometimes I'm the highest rated in my VC games and I always try to explain my rationale if I disagree with the suggestions of others. If people still want their move they're free to vote for it. Oftentimes, they change my mind . I think that's how VC is supposed to work
I've played in several vote chess matches with a group I'm in and noticed this quirky rule they have. I thought it might just be their thing, but I've seen other groups do the same. They ask that no one put in their vote until they've all agreed on a single move in the comments. I can see the benefits of that, but doesn't that defeat the purpose of vote chess? The problem, to me, is that it eventually just turns into everyone going along with whatever the highest ranked player says is the best move. And maybe that's a good strategy to win, but that's not really voting. I think there should be plenty of discussion about candidate moves, what their advantages and disadvantages are, and then to let people make up their own minds. Instead people put out a few ideas, but then the strongest player puts out their idea and everyone votes for it.