"...there's a very good chance we've not taken the time to reach some sort of community consensus on how this place should run."
Yes and no. If consensus is viewed from the coded perspective of stake, then it has been copiously considered and implemented by those with that stake. However this view is comparable to the view of lawyers of words in legal documents in relation to their understanding and use by ordinary people in common language. I reckon we view community and consensus a lot differently than do the whales that actually run the place.
Our view of user retention is quite insensate of the view of the oligarchy that is the primary beneficiary of Hive. I think your consideration would benefit from that perspective, and enable discussion to relate to actual potential of Hive.
Thanks!