[cowtools]

Sure, but I would argue that blockstream and others control bitcoin not by forcing upgrades, but instead by preventing upgrades to the network and creating commercial solutions to easily fixable problems.

I'm not saying that blocksize, LN, etc are solved problems. But I am saying that the indecision and lack of community involvement is slowly killing bitcoin. It is succumbing to corporate capture. They continue to invent increasingly custodial methods of using bitcoin.

[shudza]

There is a fundamental difference of opinion here. There will always be people pro changes and against. Its conservatism against progressivism. So, while it's useless to even argue (you're either one or the other, and that probably won't change, ever), let me just say that if you want any kind of digital property to exist, it's pretty important for such property to remain constant in regards to it's features, or better say, both it's virtues or flaws. That's why Bitcoin maximalists, as they are called, are very conservative towards bitcoin development.

Because of all that, making a case that someone controls Bitcoin just because they are preventing changes is rather far-fetched. So, while your other points may be valid, this is certanly an invalid one.