Flipping is an easy decision for some of these guys. Think about it, your sitting in a cell and looking at 25 years while your wife and 2 young children are home. Then you say" my capo and my boss were going to have me killed, they took my money, and now im supposed to protect them?"
A smart boss makes his men feel important and is close with them. I think thats the reason Gotti wanted everyone at his club on a weekly basis, just to feel guys out.