It is unlikely to be imminent (apart from what we can do within the existing consensus rules, such as voting for @burnpost), but the logic in favor of stopping a very expensive and a broken system is pretty compelling; perhaps someday it will achieve consensus. I don't really know.
It is also possible that we will come up with better solutions before that point, and we will then know how to spend high inflation in a manner that is actually a valuable growth engine instead of a waste of money. I can't rule that out.
Since I have relatively high stake, it would benefit me
I would narrow that somewhat. Since you have a high stake that (I would assume) you aren't using for shameless self-enrichment, it would benefit you. The largest stakeholders who do aggressively leverage their stake into either an income stream or gaining more stake would not benefit from the inflation cut.
If SMTs pan out, they will create their own inflation pools anyway, so this might be the best way to secure the Steem infra.
Yes, that's part of the thinking behind the idea.
You assume correctly.
One thing with pulling more people into the community is the chance that some of them will see what other might have missed with fresh eyes and new ideas, and innovate something entirely new. Perhaps one chances upon the missing piece.
Thanks for taking the time.