I and many others place principles over party, and this is why in 2003 I left the Republican party. I am now a conservative independent.
I applaud you for doing so. When you get a working political majority, then you'll have a say in what happens.
I am also an independent. If it weren't for polls, I'd 'vote my conscience'. Since we have the reality of polls, we know that the candidacy comes down to two people, sometimes three. At that point one ought to vote against the worst, or for the best of, the realistic candidates.
In an ideal world, there would be no polls, everyone would just vote their conscience...but this is not a ideal world.