Do these people misunderstand the meta? Or seek to subvert it?Just that people play in games they don't fully agree with in principle to maintain the social contract of the group. They neither accept the games principles whole-heartedly nor reject them and leave the game amicably, but instead continue to play and endure the parts they don't prefer for the sake of staying with the group.
I mean, I've played games where my preference would have been to play something else, but I've compromised and cooperated as one does in social situations. But that doesn't mean I was confused about how the game play worked, or tried to undermine the game.
EDIT: I see that @Manbearcat has made just the same point just upthread.