No one is forcing decentralization. It’s allowing for decentralization. Who are we to decide what is “economically realistic” for others? If new validator operators feel that they want to enter the validation space and have a strategy for “economic feasibility” and success, this is enabling them to do so without needing to instantly secure the >$100K delegation needed to just enter the validator set right now.
In the discussion around delegation centralization, we’ve been discussing the issue of delegators not looking at validators outside the top 20 or so. Well, you know who they’re definitely not looking at? Someone not in the validator set at all. Reducing the barrier to enter the validator set will allow new operators to enter and be able to compete rather than locking them out completely.