Which raises the question: If strong leadership is needed to define the meta-consensus, what use is it that the technical consensus is decentralized?
This has happened multiple times in the past with Bitcoin, most recently with Bitcoin Cash vs. Bitcoin Core. The user-base is split, there is lots of propaganda on both sides. However the technical consensus yields a single chain (Bitcoin Core).
This is important because all other metrics such as choosing based on message boards, market cap, etc. can be more easily gamed.
As in if every one who uses bitcoin decided that changes suggested by leadership are wrong, and not in the best interest of the network, they choose not to update their client or they don't verify transactions containing the change?