> Miners can do whatever for whatever reason
Can they create more than 21 million bitcoins? No? Then they can't "do whatever for whatever reason." The consensus rules stop them. So node runners can modify their behavior by changing the consensus rules.
> You might have thought framing it morally was cute or whatever, but its all practical
Are you saying the consensus rules I listed are not there for moral reasons? If so, then why are they there? Why is there an anti-doublespend rule except to protect against fraud?