Summary
TLDR: The Core Devs have a significant influence on the Ethereum protocol compared to other stakeholders, especially since they are paid by the Ethereum Foundation to focus on protocol research.
Key Points
1. The Core Devs play a significant role in the Ethereum community and have a strong influence on the protocol.
2. Researchers paid by the Ethereum Foundation are key stakeholders in the development and maintenance of the protocol.
3. The Ethereum Foundation is one of the few organizations that financially supports individuals to focus on protocol research.