And that makes them legit? the federal reserve is the biggest scam of all. The terrible monetary policies set by the fed are what ultimately led to the creation of the solution that is Bitcoin. What the heck is even the point of all this if you want a centralized bank partnered asset?
they're probably the most "legit" token, as they're jumping through the necessary hoops to comply with everyone. mass adoption is contingent on this and you're playing yourself if you think differently (you're also playing yourself if you think bitcoin is decentralized).
the average citizen will never believe in a non-backed asset (like from a central government). taking your crypto-anarchist ethics out of the equation, most people can't comprehend nor will they take the time to understand crypto, as most people want the
easiest form of everything. that's unfortunately a piece of paper with perceived value. there will always be gatekeepers like a central gov. ripple aren't idiots.
That is a double-edged blade. Leads towards centralisation, which is bad for many people. But more control and more willingness to be regulated is more secure for everyone, especially the users. It is like being ETH, but being more compliant to the powers that be. But you are right, Bitcoin is not as decentralised as sometimes we like to imagine.