Why did James Comey put himself at hazard?

Humor me. Comey has done some strange things over the last year, of that, there is no doubt. But why? Many believe him to be a spineless bungler who somehow rose to the top of his food chain only to find he wasn't the biggest fish in the pond, but I have a different theory. I have no hard evidence, just a feeling so, let's play 'What If?" .
-What If Comey really IS the Boy Scout, Dudley Do-Right that he has been put up to be after all?
-What If he, has knowledge and/or evidence of horrific wrong doing within the Govt, past and current, that he could not act upon knowing that he could suddenly be 'suicided'? The strange way he threw former AJ Lynch under the speeding bus during his most recent testimony leads me to believe that he just might. Let's look at some facts.
-Comey is a very successful Prosecutor, known for his legal acumen and quick thinking. Why would he not immediately inform Pres Trump of his unwillingness to drop the Flynn case? He had no such reservations, according to his testimony, when telling Trump the reasons why an investigation into the Steele Dossier would be problematic.
-Comey basically volunteered the statement regarding AJ Lynch's directive about how to refer to the Clinton E-Mail Investigation. It wasn't relevant to the question he was asked.
-Comey broke with long standing protocol when holding the presser where he concluded that Clinton had 'no intent' to break the law regarding her private server and classified documents, even though he knows full well that Intent is not required in the articles of proof for that statute. Why?
-He stated his reason for leaking was in part to ensure the appointment of Special Counsel. Why would he do that when he KNEW (as other have coobberated) that there has been Zero Evidence found to date of wrong doing on the part of President Trump or his campaign with regard to colluding with Russia to steer the election. If there is nothing to prosecute, what need is there for a Special Counsel?
-Comey knows the Whistleblower statutes as well as anyone in Govt. He knows also, that they are basically written to deter it and that there is very little protection, both legal and otherwise, for the person that comes forth.
My theory is that he put himself in legal hazard so that he could negotiate a plea, turn State's Evidence and be able to spill all that he knows, take down some top position criminals, then enter the Witness Protection Program.
So, that's my thought, such as it is. It's based on more than just wild assed guesses though. I do have some knowledge and experience in the realm of criminal investigations and prosecutions as I spent over 10 years as an Army Investigator and many others in general law enforcement.