If a person was felt by the users as the owner or the administrator or the founder, would you feel the same freedom you now feel? Their opinion would be taken differently and everyone would want to follow what he does.
Exactly, Vitalik's influance (along with few organization) on ETH community is the proof.
Not to mention that his political beliefs would affect Bitcoin one way or another.
Even worse, his background/history could be used to attack Bitcoin reputation.