Let me be clear here: certain changes, whether they are or are not good for your users, are "fuck you" changes to the network because they make other servers dependent on your implementation.

There are multiple political intersections going on in this federated network, and one of them is that it's better to refuse to cooperate than be in a situation where you are always reactive to another project's unilateral changes. Whether it's intentional or not it's hostage situation politics and it is not the way free persons should live.