Or is there some reason you expect a significant drop in the hash rate growth rate very soon?
I think in the future the best case scenario for hashrate will be leveling towards flat, I can't imagine a scenario short of a algo change or a major blow to Bitcoin where the hashrate will actually drop in the foreseeable future. Could be wrong though, also interested in ralree's explanation for his optimistic outlook.
I don't expect the hash rate to ever drop, so long as Bitcoin continues to grow. I was talking about the hash rate growth rate dropping, and whether there's some reason to think that may happen soon.