Yes, they are.
Bitcoin Knots gives you the freedom to set your OP_RETURN however you want and that is true for all filters, for YOUR mempool settings and everything else.
Core has flagged the setting for OP_RETURN as DEPRECATED, meaning in future it will be gone thus taking away your freedom.
Core devs CENSORED Bitcoin contributers on Github for mentioning Citrea, the shitcoin company that corrupted them and aims to turn Bitcoin into Ethereum like shitcoin.
Core devs ATTACKED Bitcoin Knots node runners.
Core devs lied, gaslighted and gave arguments that correspond to insanity.
Speaking about Luke, some really intelligent people call him The Guarding Angel of Bitcoin.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1872641206804426794.html
Also many Bitcoin developers contribute to Bitcoin Knots