"Look, pruning nodes have their place, but let's not get carried away. The 'nodes that matter' are the ones securing the network, not just clearing high-volume txs. Core's role isn't just about optimization, it's about upholding Bitcoin's principles. Focusing too narrowly on pruning misses the bigger picture. If you really want to understand this, go dive into the math and cryptography behind consensus - that's where the true signal is."