Always so perspective-forming to read standards discussions in the open like per W3C/ECMA/ISO. More than any single piece of software or design, standards engineering feels like contributing to a civilizational superobject, an intrigate megastructure that will outlast any individual contributor and shape the future in sweeping chaotic and unpredictable ways.

Standards discussions are the epitome of "programming is about computers; engineering is about humans". Engineering standards are so influential and riddled with adversarial nth-order effects at the intersection of human nature, behavioral economics, and obviously technological progress. Can't take efforts of domain experts (often working in a pro bono capacity) and dispassionate debate for granted.