In this thread I'm a bit disappointed in Gavin. I used to see him as a very conservative project leader, only including changes when there's community consensus about it and no doubt about its security implications.
I'm not disappointed. Although I don't currently agree with Gavin on this, I believe he has clearly behaved in a praise-worthy manner: His responses are understated and considerate which must be difficult where the opposition (e.g. me) might be read as saying "OMG YOU'RE CENTERALIZING BITCOIN YOU MONSTER". This is hard stuff with long term consequences that none of us can truthfully say we completely understand and, at the moment, without the kind of immediate urgency (or even running code) which would help crystallize thinking.
Above all other things, I'm glad that he's taking some time to spend adding some thoughts to this when it isn't an immediate issue. A lesser, not-consensus-driven developer would just rest quietly comfortable that there would eventually be an emergency that would allow pushing their way though... Gavin isn't like that, which is why you even get to hear what he's thinking on this when it's still just a philosophical debate.