Bitcoin core is centralized control. Sure you don’t have to upgrade your node but guess what the miners will. They will receive these transactions approve them and all other nodes will be forced to store this junk.

But long term I think core being exposed is good for bitcoin and there can be competition for the most critical aspect - the software.

Merge control should be reserved for the most serious/senior developers. Not for chicks that like can’t conceptualize the important of bitcoin as a monetary asset.