Theme authors have held an outwardly influential position within the WordPress extension community for a long time, likely because the theme directory is such a popular entry point for authors looking to capitalize on .org’s reach for premium upsells. Because those business interests are always simmering under the surface, it seems to naturally bubble up into vitriol anytime changes to the model are proposed that threaten that influence.

One quote in your story particularly stood out for me because it’s so completely off base as to be almost laughable:

WordPress users are not guinea pigs to force Gutenberg and FSE on them at every step. Let this process take its natural course.

WordPress users are absolutely guinea pigs and this process “taking its natural course” will likely not happen in a way that particular contributor might expect. The best ideas in a meritocracy – even a Matt-ocracy – win. And FSE has already been granted “good-idea” status by being shipped in WordPress core. It’s a little late to be unringing that bell.

My broader point is that there are plenty of examples of features WordPress has introduced that had to be forced into view, this is one of those things. This thing running its “natural course” will be WordPress forcing it into view so it gets greater exposure and adoption.