This is such an interesting question! I was going to say I think I dislike this except in certain specific circumstances, but given the variations that you mentioned it may actually be the reverse, there are lots of situations where this does work for me and one type that (usually) doesn’t: I tend to not be into an ensemble providing comfort to a single person who is an outsider, because in that case it sometimes feels like it strays into [spectacle / humiliation] territory? Like, h/c is so much about vulnerability, and one person being vulnerable before a bunch of people who don’t already have their trust is not a very comfortable situation! (But also I can be persuaded into liking nearly anything if written convincingly, so it’s not like this is a hard-and-fast rule.)

(Also, hello, I realized I neglected to introduce myself when I commented here recently! You commented on my Biggles/Anno Dracula fic on ao3 a little while back, after which I realized you were on Dreamwidth as well and subscribed to you here.)