" I suspect that they will keep up the ROP nonsense until there is another massive attack or something else that makes it patently ridiculous."
I suspect they will keep up the ROP nonsense through another massive attack, or a hundred, or a hundred thousand massive attacks.
The system is structurally incapable of allowing real leaders to rise to the top.
That's a good point. I suppose, on the other hand, there won't be much structure left if we have a really serious attack. Not that I'm saying that's a good thing - but the rules might change. However, if it's "just" a few thousand deaths, things will go on as usual, and we'll simply bury and forget about the dead and sit back to wait for another attack.