Obviously, I think there is truth in what you are saying. Personally, I have a hunch that cryptocurrency (that is, programmatic money) will enable solutions that do not currently exist. Fortunately we have some time to figure it out. I'm not set on any outcome, but I also don't want to sacrifice what is for what might be. We will find a good place, and move there.
Yes, that is of course a big risk - how do you ensure that the site doesn't go down the train once handed over to the community? To be honest; I don't know. Perhaps there should be some kind of trusted inner circle. I'm a member of a co-op. The co-op is one of the largest owners of convenience stores in the country I live in, I pay membership, and I get discounts on groceries and such. Even though the co-op is owned by normal people, it is run by people who actually know what they're doing. In this case they get paid by proceeds from the convenience stores, of course, something a community site won't necessarily have. But perhaps a co-op would be along the lines of something that could work - so although it would be owned by the community, it wouldn't be run into the ground by them - they would only have influence through elected representatives. I also don't want to sacrifice what is for what might be
I am also a member of a co-op. I think it's a very compelling scenario for a site like this. Of course, it is messy as can be, but how easy is it for a site to become captured by outside interests when the folks that made the deals can be replaced in the next elections?
Since they are elected by the community, it should hopefully not be a problem, since they represent the wishes of the community. Some sort of safeguards need to be in place, perhaps. I recommend checking this out, Reddit was on its way to become decentralized, but it was stopped by a new round of funding and Yishan leaving:
[...] how easy is it for a site to become captured by outside interests when the folks that made the deals can be replaced in the next elections?