Why a less senior commander led the interned High Seas Fleet

Why did Hipper or Reinhard Scheer not lead the interned High Seas Fleet, and how might scuttling have been prevented?

A less senior commander was considered more acceptable within the German navy; tighter inspections or an earlier British seizure could have prevented the scuttling.

German naval attitudes to honour and responsibility made a less senior commander a more acceptable choice to lead the interned fleet than Hipper or Scheer. The senior leaders might still have been expected to take responsibility. The scuttling could have failed if British inspections had uncovered the preparations and led to the crews' removal. Britain also considered seizing the ships on several earlier occasions. An earlier takeover could therefore have denied the Germans their opportunity at Scapa Flow.