WordPress(.org) is a single point of control over plugin distribution. One entity controls the directory. One entity controls the update mechanism. One entity decides who gets to ship. I think the future of WordPress product distribution is decentralised: https://coenjacobs.com/blog/future-wordpress-product-distribution-decentralised/
“The technical project worked. They built it. It was real, it was functional, and it was a serious attempt at solving the structural problem I’m describing.”
You’re tense is incorrect. The project does work, is real, is functional, and continues to be improved.