Question about Simul Climbing (Alone on the Wall)

I just finished up Alone on the Wall and Alex Honnold (when he simul climbs Freerider with Tommy Caldwell) says that he is taking more risk when leading the simul.. I have learned the follower takes more of a risk. Why does he say that?

Because he has huge run outs or sometimes no protection at all. The follower usually has a few pieces or is fixed on the anchor

If the follower falls, the leader can get pulled off the wall when the rope comes tight.

That is correct, if the follower falls while simul climbing they will take a huuge whip but might be ok. If the follower falls they rip the leader off the wall, kinda like doubling the force of the whip. Much much more dangerous for the leader.

They also use microtraxions clipped to a piece to act as top belays for the follower.

Matt Wetmore wrote: They also use microtraxions clipped to a piece to act as top belays for the follower.

True, and if you develop enough slack between that microtrax and the follower, you start getting into shredded rope territory.

I've always thought of it as the leader takes more of the risk, the follower takes more of the responsibility.  Stronger climber should ideally be following, so there's less of a chance of them falling and pulling the leader off the wall.  

Brent D wrote:

I've always thought of it as the leader takes more of the risk, the follower takes more of the responsibility. 

Absolutely.

im sure that u are right

Imagine you're 20 feet above your gear, and suddenly your belayer unclips from the anchor and jumps off the wall, pulling you down and into the last piece of protection and the wall. It can get really ugly, even on low angle terrain if the follower falls while simuling.