My idea:
5 or 7 player council containing high level players with a good knowledge of what needs to be done balance wise. Ideas will be sent to the group and the players will discuss. It's an odd number so there will never be a split vote. 4 or 6 will be regular members "jury", and one is the "judge" and will report back the community on the outcomes and post on GitHub what has been decided so the devs have precise information the community wants added.
Why?:
Well it's pretty clear recently that we cannot be left to our own devices to discuss balance. Either someone suggests a stupid idea with no thought gone into the balance or how it would affect the game. These threads bring out the worst in people like me (yes I hold my hold my hands up) and others. Threads that are accurate, have a reasonable idea and that it wouldn't just mess up balance can be random and can cause either
A. endless discussion because the community is so divided and will lead to endless discussion as nobody will yield.
B. Flame wars erupt between players because of heightened tension. (Bounty issue)
C. Nothing actually happens.
D. In extreme cases (the Huey episode) the topic causes such a divide the devs think its too toxic to implement.
And what does this mean? Nobody can agree on anything so the whole progress of the game is just stumped.
But Happy how will you decide who is on this council?
I will not be taking any part cause I don't know the first thing on how to balance. All I do is give my opinions on issues that are straightforward enough for even me to see the answer. I rely on you smart people on GitHub to make my game enjoyable and so far it's been a blast. The problem is the key to making it even more enjoyable has been warped and that is what I'm trying to fix here.
Because of the above point who goes on the council is out of my control. There will be problems. People can just volunteer and walk in - how do you know if a complete idiot is now part of the most important cog in this machine? People can vote in people in - this communities so small we already saw the voter turnout in the map contest, how do we know this wont just do the above point?
My answer, ask the people who are the main contributors in balance theory already and the work behind the scenes already, who am I talking about?
SoScared
Microbit
abcdefg30
Frame Limiter
Anyothers I don't know I visit Github once a month so twice in total

Even after that there are plenty of high tier players with years of experience that know the inside and outs of this game
This is just my answer I wont be apart of any of it, just the idea behind it

But what about people who think they should be on this council but don't get a shot?
Tough shit really


But what if the actions of the council go against the majority?
Well tough shit again, these 5-7 people are the most experienced and know the game in and out they know more about it then I ever will and I already know quite a bit, even if its not correct in your head it is probably the best course of action.
Why do I think this should happen?
Well now instead of endless debates we can have definitive answers and get cogs of RA moving faster than ever.
As to how suggestions will come to the council I don't know, maybe some sort of PM or even anonymously but not an open thread to avoid more of the recent events.
Thank you for readings please leave comments and if this is to become reality it needs all the foundations correct. Please don't turn it into a debate though, I'm hoping someone will pick this up and run with it cough SoScared cough.