the behavior is up to the app to decide how they want the data synced, not the protocol. its true this logic might diverge between apps, but if looking at it on a per app basis then it will work fine.
if cross-app compatibility is important enough (i think it is for microblogging), then we will converge to things like outbox and other methods, but we are not tied to it and its open to be improved even more. its bottom up not top down. its the bazaar not the cathedral.
the SSB, matrix and even git guys already tried the method of heavily perscribing the state syncing in a top-down way, and it just sucks for app development.
