[s7r]

This is akin asking 'Will we build our community around hammers or screwdrivers?'

Network architectures are means, not ends.

The question is what are we trying to do?

Based on that context, we can determine whether a hammer, screwdriver, centralized architecture, decentralized architecture, or federated architecture is most beneficial for us. They all have tradeoffs (e.g. easier to remove screws than nails, easier to secure centralized than decentralized systems, easier to power federated systems than decentralized systems, easier to trust decentralized and federated systems than centralized systems) which can make them more or less useful for us in any given context. The point is, they are tools to help us realize our desired outcomes -- not the outcomes themselves.

[0xbadcafebee]

Finally, some common sense.

There's some weird psychology of tech circles that keeps us focused on decentralization. Often it just seems like bikeshedding rather than problem-solving. My guess is the Social Media generation has become wary of people controlling their lives, preferring autonomy. They hear about network decentralization, and then come to the conclusion that it must be better than the alternative, because the alternative is centralization, which is Google and Facebook (but never Apple apparently, which is pretty ironic).

[RF_Savage]

Yeah. This seems to be missing from the current conversation.