Like you I have been paying close attention to this entire "debate".

I listened to a podcast with Nick Szabo, inventor of Bitgold (http://tim.blog/2017/06/04/nick-szabo/) where I think he says it best: it's such a specific technical issue that it's better left to the engineers than any sort of investor, analyst, layman to pick apart.

Hearing that put my mind at ease, and makes me lean towards thinking that folks are looking to push their own agenda (shocker, right? ) and create fear/volatility based on something that ought to not be the center of attention.

Mainstream media is just now coming around on Bitcoin, and the first clickbait article they can come up with is something along the lines of "Segwit: The End of Bitcoin?". Another overhyped "news" event in my view.

The engineers have all of the motivation in the world to get this right, so hopefully whatever solution they identify as best for long-term value is the one acted upon.