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"It seems Vatican II wasn't the first council to invite protestant 'observers'."

You are mixing apples and oranges. Nobody ever said inviting Protestants to a Council was unique. But it was certainly unique to have them sit-in on Bugnini's concoction as advisors a few years after the close of Vatican II. The new Mass was designed specifically to please the six Protestant ministers who ultimately gave it their seal of approval, then it was foisted on the faithful in utter disregard of Catholic Tradition and the prohibitions of the Council of Trent. Is it any wonder these same geniuses started removing Communion rails and tabernacles from sanctuaries soon after? Everybody except horrified traditionalists were waiting breathlessly for the springtime to happen, for the golden age of conversions to suddenly blossom. Instead Mass attendance by practicing Catholics worldwide dropped precipitously from somewhere in the 80% range to a miserable 25 or 26% today. Not only didn't the new Mass attract Protestants the way it was supposed to, but the annual rate of conversions to Catholicism likewise began plummeting radically. Bugnini's concoction was a disaster all the way around and was the beginning of a stunning reversal of fortune for the Catholic Church, ultimately leading to a widespread loss of faith and much corruption.

Interestingly the Protestant ecumenical movement has resulted in decline in attendance in the denominations that have compromised their beliefs adopting a minimalist creed (if that).

Churches that clearly articulat ewhat they believe, why they believe it and are consistent are growing (Protestant and Catholic).

The new Mass was designed specifically to please the six Protestant ministers who ultimately gave it their seal of approval, then it was foisted on the faithful in utter disregard of Catholic Tradition and the prohibitions of the Council of Trent.

Who were they? Where is this documented?

I don't think the liturgical reforms should take all or even most of the blame for attendance declines. Blame the post-1960's shift in morality and values. Unfortunately V2 came around rthe same time so it gets the blame for the ills in Catholic life caused more by the times.