Potential answer to the problem?
Ok I'm having a brainstorm here but maybe this could work:
Rather than letting the leaders force you to sit out they have a button the works separately. Theirs could be say "Recommend Opt Out" in which the player would receive an option to accept or decline the offer. If after say an hour there is no response the person is set to opt out automatically. Or if they decline they can still participate in the war.
This way it stops the leaders choosing the elite ppl warring while others watch. Also it means leaders don't have to kick ppl out to start a war. The worst case is the player in question sits out and has a chance to talk with the leaders to determine if it's the right clan etc.. And have an amicable parting if need be.
Players should always be able to turn themselves to "not available" for the war when they are away.
If the players are refusing the opt out at the leaders request then they can sort that in the usual methods: kick etc..
Does that make sense? Seems to solve all the issues in leader power trips as they can't force ppl out merely suggest it and deal with the answer - bottom line is the player can still choose to participate and only be stopped if kicked out (same as current model)
Crab claw! I hate anyone who gives Crab claw to me or anyone else in this game!
I wonder if your experience in clash of clan and clan war is different then mines, my clan is open arms to all who put a real war effort into an attack, one star or none as long as they build them self toward a win (using top tier troops and improving). We only opt-out players who want to be out or that they are are in the middle of something (upgrading etc).
So your 'Leader who Recommend opt-out' idea is something that's surprising to me since in your case, your war is based on elite players only and it seems that your force in a way to not be able to join said war unless a vacant spot is open up. imo that is totally against what supercell's vision for this game. I wonder if this is what they mean about the whole giving crab thing that they posted, i'm pretty shock to hear that this is how most war are being operated.
I believe that the opt-out button is needed but this whole crab claw deal is a different matter and that i would like to protest the unrighteous idea that a player should be built of elitist. (well in higher tier like champion and master, you outta be committed at that point so i bet it doesn't apply to them but anything lower then that is an out rage).
A true leader should build his clanmate up, not hold them back and don't let them experience anything. you might as well tell them that they are a air bubble, it's there but not there at the same time. (btw your a terrible person if you do say that to them)