Dhyān Yogi 

If an atma is assigned an intellect at the "beginning of time" what would motive that atma to question that influence and "develop another interest" contrary to its initial one?

Generally speaking the atmas are not motivated to develop other interest but only to improve upon, adjust or eliminate certain interest. A child who finds itself soon after birth with some toys in a room, will try to use those toys, eat those toys and if possible change or smash them.

The idea of who placed the toys in the room will not arise in the mind of the child. This means that if I find myself conscious in an environment and if I have no other information except my contract with that environment and its immediate contents, I will not have an idea of anything beyond that place.

Motivation will be there but it will not arise that I should get away from that room. At least not until I experience some other room or place.

Is the initial influence is a "red herring"? Meaning is it intended to be misleading or a distraction from the onset and the atma is tasked with developing a motive to seek a method/associations to "take steps to sidestep that influence" based on its experiences?

The initial influence is not meant to mislead or to be a distraction. It is a distraction but even though it is, no one set it up as a distraction. The child is locked in a room by a parent but that does not mean that the parent has a deliberate idea to hid the rest of the world which is exterior to the room.

It just happens to be convenient for the parent to confine the child.