So the introduction of OP_RETURN itself was already a move toward allowing arbitrary data to be relayed, not filtered. Satoshi filtered unknown content types, but the community consensus through OP_RETURN was to explicitly allow a mechanism for arbitrary data.

The question becomes: was OP_RETURN a bug or a feature? If it was intentionally introduced to allow data relay that was previously filtered, then expanding its capacity seems consistent with that original decision to permit arbitrary data.

If the argument is that OP_RETURN was a mistake that opened the door to abuse, then we’re debating whether to roll back a consensus change that’s been part of Bitcoin for over a decade.

Either way, the decision to allow arbitrary data relay was made long before inscriptions. The current debate is about the scale, not the principle.