the truth is, your feelings aren't shared by the market. since bitcoin is an opt-in, voluntary network, it's up to the actual users to reject core and pursue an alternative. if bitcoin users were opposed to core's development process, they'd run alternative/incompatible versions. a few actually do that, but the vast majority of node operators don't. your issue is with them, not core developers.
Thank you for stating it in a far more eloquent fashion than I can normally manage. I've been saying something along those lines (admittedly with more insults included) to franky1 for weeks now. I don't know if it's just willful ignorance on his part, or if his brain just isn't wired up in a way that allows him to comprehend it. Bitcoin is working as intended. There's no conspiracy. There isn't an all-powerful entity pulling the strings behind the scenes. It's just people freely choosing to run code that does what they want it to do. I'm pretty sure that was Satoshi's original idea, so all is well.
what you both have yet to research is that the august event was not a level playing field consensus vote
those that did not upgrade to latest segwit node to 'opt-in' were treated not as a no vote. but as a second class (downstream/filtered) wallet which had no power to object.
they were not allowed to reject/ban segwit blocks. instead they were handed pidgeon english voting cards that read as if nothing has changed. basically lied to about what consensus is and had no vote..
the nodes and pools that actually did object adding code that would ban segwit blocks. cores code just ignored the vote (reject block and ban ip nodes) to make it appear that core got 95%
READ THE DANG CODE!! not your friends PR
the laugh of the "voluntary opt-in".. is funny
but you forget to mention there was no consensus veto to prevent.
it was a mandatory tactic not a consensus tactic
now try ignoring your friends PR stuff and do some independant research.. like i have told ya to try. i even done so nicely without insults