'final check'?
only check
Achow has gone "god-mode"
he controls the moderation of many platforms used as technical discussion, he does not like independant review, scrutiny or critique outside the core team roadmap
he enjoys those that FOLLOW cores roadmap but wants anyone opposing the core roadmap removed from discussion. even in github he has recently proposed only the 6 maintainer have complete moderation control of github and also wanted to change who has ACK nAck acknowledgement of code proposals
achow has become one of the biggest causes of centralising core
years ago is was luke and sipa. now its achow and sipa
bitcoin core is not an "open-gated community* achow feels that open source just means open to read, but not open be part of the development.
(unless you are the 'diversity hire' volunteer allowed to make a few grammar check alterations to seem less centralised)
he strongly hates independence and openness
I don't disagree these guys have power to change Bitcoin's code, but it's more accurate to say they can hold sway over any proposed changes in it. If it were true that a handful of people can bend/break Bitcoin to their will, then Bitcoin would have failed. You can put it to the test, too. Get one of them to write something arbitrary into the code, and people will notice, question, likely protest. And their reputations gone, also as the article does point out.
there are protests already. and their reputations are questioned. but that doesnt stop them
softening consensus has already happened to allow core to put in new things without the majority of nodes upgrading first to consent to an activation
