What are the other options for anonymity that don't provide the same cover for criminal activity?
As in, 28.8K or 56K or so ...
This would force tor into being a text only communications channel which would obviate many of the most egregious illegal use-cases.
You'd lose nothing with regard to freedom of speech and thought and communication. For instance, you can publish, and consume, a site like HN without any issues on 56K.
But I don't see it working in reality because there is the argument that you might need to share leaks anonymously and that would take days.