I don't think that matters so much. I think there is an understanding on both sides as to what is needed, but the fundamental change most needed isn't going to happen: getting great people up top running the show. We even agree on what traits are necessary, but people who are known in the community as having the necessary things don't want the job. Which means recruiting outside the community, which is nigh on impossible.
Of course, having reform of the entire organization (not how I don't want to call it a corporation) would be pretty much impossible because of the way people are; they don't want to put up with people they have disagreed with in the past and they probably wouldn't want to continue. I think the biggest problem is the people in charge vs. the people who can move SMF forward as a competitive product because let's face it: the developers are the ones with the time, energy, passion, and skills to push out great updates, while the people in charge need to do their jobs in making sure the project runs smoothly. Since the developers don't want to come back, and the people in charge probably don't want them back, now what?
Well, I think now this has to come down to the people in charge to start pushing their egos aside or doing something completely new because the time to find/take new developers is just too long. It's unfortunate but I think having a reform of the organization is what can bring people back... Because like I said previously, it's unlikely any developers will return with the same landscape, and the same politics in SMF. And what SMF is probably going to need more than anything are strong developers.