> There was no central entity mandating that everyone was required to run the "new" network

Is the choice to run a less valuable network really a choice?

Remember that the foundation people gave themselves most of the coins that will ever exist before the network was even started, even if a lot was sold long before there was a word for ICOs. Only ~ 20% or so of the supply will ever be mined. It is not economically rational to differ in consensus rules from the foundation.