With a takeover I think its reasonable to expect a changes in power. Why wouldn't the new owner want to vote someone on his team to being a witness. Why wouldn't he use his stake, he purchased it, it's his.

I don't think a split to two different Steem tokens will be good. User retention here sucks as it is. To split the group we do have won't be good for either side and will likely have negative impacts on both Steem tokens. Those negative impacts will likely be worse for the side that isn't Justin Sun.

Removing his stake sets a bad precedent. No-one should be forked out because they managed to buy up enough to have a controlling share. Forking away from his share and creating a NEW STEEM that starts with everyone having 0 tokens seems like an option that could take place without damaging the reputation of STEEM.

If I was an investor or anyone even remotely serious about making money with crypto and I seen that another investors stake was forked out of a project, my money would never be placed in that token/company as I would be too fearful of the same happening to me.