Hey @ApuMallku , we actually do focus on users and holders, and deeply care about the protocol that we contributed deeply. Being here even after 8 years says it a lot as well, while a lot of projects and founders disappeared in DeFi.
First of all, we work day and night to ensure that there is a good product to access Aave and also innovate also on the protocol level itself. We are 24/7 committed to Aave DAO and growing the Aave Protocol amongst everyone else. I read every single customer support ticket and think about features that we can add outside of the Aave Protocol. For example, collateral swaps or debt swaps are not a protocol level, and something that I invented a few years ago to improve the user retention all the way on the protocol level to avoid users moving their funds to other protocols. I do think having a secure application and well built is important for the growth of the protocol itself and that has been our north star.
Regarding the Uniswap proposal, I am actually not excited about it because it re-centralized the DAO and I don’t think that’s beneficial to the DAO. First, the DAO should not pay for the application development and not subsidise it, this risk should be taken who ever builds these products. If it does, like in the Uniswap case, others won’t be able to build competitive products easily as there is a higher barrier to compete against a central application. This would mean its harder to build a successful product/business and there is less of scale and competition, also means most likely worse product experience, meaning loss of market share to competitors.
I truly want to build good products on top of Aave and grow the protocol and sustain this development, and being able to do that without monetizing the actual lending would be great. If Aave Labs is able to succeed, others will build products too and scale the protocol. That is what actually matters the most for tokenholders, growth and revenue over time.