and also, let's build up (and continue to build up) our user base.
Not possible, Bitcoin is running at max capacity (250,000 tx per day). New users can only be added if existing users use Bitcoin less.
Maybe we can just agree to disagree? I think that you are just making shit up, when you are suggesting that bitcoin is running at max capacity,
Do your homework for once. Look up the number of daily transactions, and look up how many transactions on average fit into 144 blocks of 1 MB. (I don't dare to point to any source anymore, because you'll say they perhaps fake the numbers. So choose your own source.)
Maybe this question of "maxed out" is a matter of perception, because I perceive bitcoin to be quite well functional and well under capacity,
I didn't say that the "functionality" is maxxed out (if such a thing even exists). Only the capacity. Which is maximum 250,000 transactions per day (1 block holds about 1700 tx, there are about 144 blocks in 24 hours). And the past half year there are about 200,000 to 250,000 tx per day on average. No perception here, just facts.
I don't agree to disagree about facts. Now, are there on average 200,000 to 250,000 tx per day in during the last months or not? A simple 'yes' or 'no, look at this source here...' suffices.