What about an option where you always route through the smallest-hub routes ?

If 2 routes are available choose the one with the least amount of money on it.  ( These smaller routes would have to re-balance more often to stay relevant. )

You would only use the big hub routes as a last resort - if no other viable cheap enough route was available.

This may require more hops, and may require more fees.

Would you always choose the cheapest route or would you choose the most helpful route to keep the network decentralised ? .. not sure.

I pay the 'higher' fee currently on my BTC transactions, even if time isn't such an issue, so I can see myself choosing the _slightly_ more expensive route, if the money still got there, and it was beneficial to the health of the network.