If someone wants something badly enough, they're willing to go through things they fear or even hate just to get to their goal. The wealthy in society, unless it's inherited, have to sacrifice a large amount to get paid what they do. CEOs will spend 12 or more hours working, every day, sometimes 6 or even 7 days a week. They do that because that have a very clear goal in mind and are willing to risk a lot just to get it.
Depending on what the old version of the MC had planned, it's very possible the risk of going into cryo could've been worth it. What if someone was going to kill him for sure if he had stayed? Having a greater chance of surviving by going into cryo sounds like good motivation to me. What if he had some grand scheme and was going to become filthy rich if he executed his planet once everyone arrives? That might be great motivation for a lot of people. I would assume it's something along these lines that could outweigh (for the old version of the MC) the risk of death when going into Hibernation.
I'm absolutely not saying you need to agree with me, but the above were the first things that came to mind when I got to this part as well.