[civilized]

Feynman is impressed because the committee remembered the best argument and got to the right decision without Compton having to insist on himself. Compton made the best argument, once, and won.

If the committee didn't choose Compton's idea, it would just be an average lame committee where quality of thought isn't a priority.

There's a reason "design by committee" is an epithet. People thinking in groups normally suck at it.