btw, since everyone around here seems to not mind for-profits changing the source code to their own advantage, why don't we increase OP_return back up to 80 bytes, from 40 bytes, so that Counterparty can fit back in their tx proofs for their share issuance that they were so badly depending on, so as to further their profit model? 
I honestly don't know if sc is the right way to go or not. But I do know that the network runs on consensus. If it agrees to allow sc while denying the 80 bytes, then that is what the consensus has decided. It isn't something that can be argued or reasoned with.
the question then becomes, the consensus of who?
those who participate in this thread or those who participate in the dev email lists and IRC channels? or the consensus of the community at large?
The people running the nodes, the miners, and the companies that are deciding to use a particular fork.
the consenus includes EVERYONE participating in Bitcoin today.