These are all excellent points! Please note this latest round of inflation curve drama is solely the result of the self-appointed MEW and its wannabe King Whale, who is well known for personifying the mania of crypto's irrationally exuberant highs and its correspondingly depressive lows.
What do you mean by self-appointed MEW? It is a group of XMR holders and supporters who each contributed XMR to the group (half of which goes directly to the Dev's).
I do agree the drama about the emission schedule seems to have followed from the price decline, which has happened during a general crypto bear market. Everyone needs to remember that post hoc ergo propter hoc is a logical fallacy. There is no evidence that the 'fast' emission schedule has caused the price decline since September (even as the emission rate falls).
I don't believe it is necessary but, if the emission rate were to be reduced, I think ArticMine's suggestion of gradually increasing the block time would probably be the best way.
As for bagholder, I have been buying more XMR in every month since June, and I am sanguine about holding.
Q