The nodes don’t matter. It’s a nerd obsession that totally missed the human aspect of all of this. I believe people will support whichever chain that doesn’t leave them impoverished. Sadly, the other guy has an unlimited money printer, 0% interest loans and blackrock. The bitcoiner had bitcoin on his side but in a fork scenario where the state wages all out war on your chain and has the legislative power and the population’s money tied in ETFs, the people will take the safe path of least resistance and that will be the state coin. The node counts won’t mean shit. Miners are also state approved entities. We are long past being able to do anything about that.
Bitcoin will continue no doubt, but in what capacity - I’m not sure. Which chain will end up bitcoin classic? That’s the big question mark. Right now I’m not feeling optimistic about what I think will be the answer to that question but sure hope it’s the not the current chain.