So is this "it's core vs. knots" thing. Nah, it's Core as a neutral reference implementation stewardship project vs Core as "we make the decisions now, filthy plebs."

Knots only came into the equation because it was the first alternative anyone could think of, and Luke makes for an easy punching bag thanks to his eccentricities.

I'm glad the Core team has given up on being a neutral reference implementation, because Bitcoin shouldn't have such a weak trusted point of failure.

I for one am curious what the BTCD guys are doing these days. And libbitcoin, for that matter, which is probably at least the structure of a project that a reference implementation, should one exist, would have.