hi, there. thanks.
**when you said. **
One thing I don’t like is that a sentry node only becomes useful when the validator node is updated (Sentry node added to persistent_peers on the validator.)
the sentry is useful all time, because is connected almost to more 40 peers all time, and the validator is only connected to the sentrys example 4.
i am missing some translation maybe. help me to understand. 
and in the other hand
when you said: “Currently, this is only possible during a maintenance schedule of the validator, since it requires the validator to be restarted. (So, I wouldn’t automate it just yet.)”
is not automate yet, but when validator lost peers form peersisten_peer list, need to connect automate again for my undertand and for logical to the sentrys for the peersitent_peer: list. now is one issue open about this, but is in Terdermint.
for that now sentrys not sure is going to work in the next release gaia-7000 for this