now your trying to mis-understand it yourself so you can twist it into any direction you please..

i think you need to have a cup of coffee and think for a few minutes.

my node which downloads the blockchain, relays transactions. checks validity, makes and signs transactions, stores private keys. etc etc.... is......
.. wait for it...

hang on.. just a couple more seconds to catch your breath...
......


not bitcoin-core.exe

but it works..

bitcoin-core.. is not a protocol.. its not the only way.. bitcoin-core is just a implementation of code which within that code are some protocol rules..

anyone.. YES ANYONE can make their own implimentation, own little extra features. different GUI, etc etc.. but as long as the main rules within the code that allow it to handshake and communicate to other peers is the same.. they can all communicate happily