1. I want a broader explanation of how I can "vote" with my node. It feels as if the miners have all the decision power. But I've read otherwise. It's confusing.

Also, I would like to know if I can "vote" for certain "things" with my node. For example, I want to "punish" spam on the timechain. Or "disable" Taproot on my Bitcoin Core version v26.0.0.

Can I switch on/off certain aspects brought onto my node by the devs?

Is it an all-or-nothing thing?

2. I didn't fully understand the last implementation of Taproot. I read that the miners were voting on it, but I (the node owner) was never asked to vote. Does only those who "have proven to work" have the right to vote.

Do us --the users-- have any saying besides this or that Bitcoin Core version we choose to run?