Sounds like "fake it till you make it" mentality. They are saying decentralized for long enough that it is just an accepted fact. It's pretty obvious that people are ok with being lied to in advertising, just look around you at society.
I think it was just a twist of words that caused a sort of avalanche of users who believe that is what it is.. based on what they read.
I think the platform is great as is, and there is a way to communicate that it is also working to be improved etc.
There is a certain responsibility that needs to be placed on those that continue to further the lie and they need to be made aware of their error. There is also a need for people who understand and can articulate this problem (THANK YOU!) as I had little awareness of this going on.
It's been weird watching the evolution of this place over the years and I have always held a strong hope that it would flourish.
it is like food at a store that says it is organic but is not and some people don't know any better