This standardization process amounts to "endorsement of existing
features" which seems like not a bad process at all. It makes
the standard descriptive rather than predictive.

+1. I agree generally with Gabor's points -- GHC is in the drivers seat. But at some point we should take a look at all the things GHC has made that did pay off and that are good and make them official.

I'd very much like to see that endorsement happen soon, even if it's not aggressive.