No, it's not decentralized and never has been, nor has that ever really been a problem--Theymos pretty much allows members a ton of freedom, and that's a rarity in the world of discussion forums. 

I think what Theymos produced as this year's joke is a pretty neat effect.  I also kind of figured it would be about coronavirus this year and would have been surprised had it not been--the outbreak has been all everyone's talking about for a month now.  Anyway, it's pretty clever on his part.