Running a node is the only way to have a vote in the bitcoin system. For example, my node will never run drivechains, even if they manage to do get through.

The right to vote in the bitcoin protocol is analogous to being a citizen in Ancient Athens. Not all were citizens, and (unfairly) all were male, contributing members of the Athenian society. There were slaves and people born elsewhere that didn't have citizen rights. And anyone going against the city-state was ostracized, but that's not possible in bitcoin.

The analogy still stands, because the Athenian citizen had to stay informed on current events, matters of the state and had to vote on various issues. That's why democracy worked, not because everyone voted, but because the voters were mainly valuable citizens.

Back to bitcoin, it seems we're creating the same sort of governance. Informed noderunners get a vote, people who leave the thinking to others do not get one.

It's a sort of democracy of 17.000 noderunners and it's messy but it works so far. And it's the only way to sustain one.