Those people have to put a lot of work to make sure decentralization actually happens, to incentivize others to make and promote other implementations, etc. But they don't even want to talk about it. They want everyone to use the thing they control. There is no decentralization here at all.
I think that's a broad generalization, perhaps of your own experiences. There are enough people on the cutting edge that you can constructively talk with.
But remember it's still a meritocracy: 'they' might listen to you, but will only take you seriously if you present your own work to them.
