> I've heard a lot of different notions around the chain regarding why witnesses are doing the softfork, how they might do it to others, and a lot of what I consider nonsense.

Its not the fact they might do "it" to others. Its the fact that it has already been done to someone (Justin Sun). Its also the fact it was done rather quietly without much community discussion. 

Lets be honest here, the chances of this needing to be done to someone else is low. This is because it would be difficult to attain such a stake that Justin Sun has attained unless sold by him to another investor. 

A bad precedent was set and the witnesses may have took Justin Sun voting power away but STEEM's success might be more relient on Justin Sun actions Now  then ever before.

Why is that you ask, it's because the likely hood of STEEM ever getting any big investor that isn't Justin Sun (or brought here because of him) after this fiasco is next to @null. 



> I think the next step is Justin et al state their intention in writing prior to March 6th and then talk through them publicly on March 6th (but not on Dlive). Witnesses then need time to codify a trustless execution of plan(s) from there.

That certainly would be awesome if @justinsunsteemit did but I don't think he is in any way obligated to do so. The man bought his stake and Steemit fair and square, he owes 0 explanation to anyone. 

> Ned likely defrauded.....

I don't see any defraud ....

I see the quotes from you and others that have said Steemit (Ned) promised to not use the ninja stake for voting and to the best of my knowledge Ned's Steemit stuck with that plan. But even if he didn't ....  Unless there's a legal contract somewhere, breaking a promise doesn't equal fraud.

The moment Ned sold his stake and Steemit, Ned's Steemit and his promises   and vision ended. His vision and promises doesn't transfer over to the new owner of the stake purchased unless there's some kinda legal contract saying otherwise or the new owner decides to keep the same vision. Justin Sun shouldn't be expected to keep Ned's promisses.

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I do understand the worry and why the action of softfork was taken but I'm not sure if it did more good (as intended) then it did bad.

 I'm here for the community and the cool game Splinterlands in which you and @yabapmatt have created. So my opinion is basically as an onlooker with not much stake or investment other then the few thousand I put into SPlinterlands.