Someone didn't read what I wrote in that quote, or the subsequent post where I listed numerous justifications. My point was merely regarding considering other player characters as 'nobodies/hedge knights'. Nowhere in that quote did I suggest there is no reason to ever reject a duel.
Neither did I beyond the obvious: not wanting to be killed. No one wants to be killed. That doesn't mean that rejecting duels should be the norm. There's plenty of scope for interesting game mechanics as a reward or penalty: honour; unit morale and cohesion; region morale, control and loyalty. Only a subtle effect at first amplifying with each successive duel declined.
