How would this be different from previous Golos and Whaleshares forks?

Timing and the fact that Steem was still operating in an arguably viable state at the time. Now, it's a dead man walking. Plus Golos was launched as an ICO and was explicitly targeted at a narrow market, which makes it quite different. I don't know much about whaleshares although I've heard it had some odd (to me) ideas about how to differentiate.

Practical considerations are important ones, I agree on that.