The reason the BDFL idea comes up is that it's minimum viable governance. You can get the properties that are necessary for viability with other methods, of cou

The reason the BDFL idea comes up is that it's minimum viable governance. You can get the properties that are necessary for viability with other methods, of course. But Rust is sorely lacking right now. At the most basic, the BDFL sets a vision and change approval process. At the beginning you don't need anything more. Maybe that vision isn't clear, and the approval process is a wreck. But it's possible to figure out where you stand in relation to the project. And you know how to engage with it productively. I've long gotten the impression Rust lacks leaders in leadership, and is riddled with power brokers. Recent blog posts have confirmed this.