bitcoin is not a meritocracy.
it is a currency.
and technically development contribution is not required to have insight into its value, or how to maintain its freedom.
Discussion
bitcoin is defined by its implementation, if anyone could change it and convinced everyone to run it, it would change bitcoin. then that would be the new definition of the currency. if we want to maintain its current properties, then it is by definition a meritocracy that maintains that.
if it is never updated ever again then sure, but its still the product of this meritocracy.
you know i agree with you.
im just wary of how corrupted elite groups form.