To the question of whether this asymmetry is inconsistent, I think not, and I refer you to this ancient Zen kōan:
- Ask any man if he’s as good as the next man and each will say yes.
- Ask any man if he’s as good as nobody and each will say no.
- Ask nobody if it’s as good as any man and you’ll never get a reply.
At that moment, the compiler reached enlightenment.