I also hope that Satoshi will stay anonymous for good so that bitcoin will stay decentralized the whole time. And i don't think it will make a difference if Satoshi suddenly comes back because i believe people have been used to bitcoin who is not controlled by any entity or group. And in fact, 11 years without Satoshi, bitcoin has become more developed and gets acknowledgement from the crowd. So it has made great achievements even without Satoshi in its side.
If satoshi carefully and successfully did many things to stay anonymous at beginning and early years of Bitcoin development and operation, satoshi would be wisely and carefully enough to maintain it 11 years later.
Only if satoshi proactively wants to reveal real identity, no one can find satoshi in person.
I think even if Satoshi has not come back physically, but secretly he is eyeing bitcoin and the current events happening in bitcoin. But it will do more good if he chose to be anonymous the whole time bitcoin is decentralized because it will only create a huge impact on the market once he decides to show up. And there will be lots of criticisms for Satoshi, but i know for sure we will be more grateful to see him and thank for his invention. That's for bitcoin lovers.
If satoshi comes back, it would be come from due diligent reasons which I can not imagine of at this moment. Do you imagine any possible reason for satoshi to return? I guess no reason for satoshi.
Bitcoin network runs 24/7 without satoshi. Protocol upgrades done successfully without satoshi but with thousands of votes from nodes. Developments of Bitcoin Core done by many top-notch developers without satoshi or satoshi is one of them, just under another name.
Overally, Bitcoin can keep going without satoshi and satoshi can enjoy permanent anonymity.