I think we should be realistic.
The spectrum of motivation for delegation is “complete indifference” on one end, and “pure popularity contest” on the other end.
Sure, there are probably a few people that delegated out of a genuine concern for the future of ENS, but… there is nothing at stake for them. It’s the same with electing stewards. Why would it matter how DAO money is spent and what decisions are made, if it doesn’t effect the voters at all?
At the end of the day, delegation matters very little… in my perspective, since November 2021.
The second highest holder of $ENS doesn’t even have an ENS name, and has never participated. From what I can tell, that address belongs to an investment fund that just bought an absurd amount of tokens.
I am idealist but I am also a realist. ENS DAO as it is now is nowhere close to a democracy.
In an ideal world, the people that actually participate the most and are the most knowledgeable would be the obvious choices to have the most delegation.
In the real world we are in now, anyone can quite literally just buy more votes.
Oh and for some reason, delegation never expires.
So I wouldn’t stress too much about inactive delegates. We still have a lot of work to do. Doing the work is what really matters, no matter how many votes you have acquired through money, power, or influence.