The difference is if the Emperor at that moment thinks he can get away with inducting you and likes you enough.

you are still going to spend either 80 years or until you hit level 51 as bloodoath, but if you make yourself both useful and well-loved while creatively finding ways to shun the players who abuse you (or schmooze with the Emperor to get them anathema'd, also hint-hint: abuse duo dimension, this works great for political intrigue or simply convincing a bossy player you are not logged in including higher-ranked people) then being a muter can be almost more fun than having actual cabal powers, especially with the number of stunts a transmuter can pull off accelerating and enhancing the pre-hasted level 51 centurions.