Our understanding of L2 has always been the 'main road / highway' or the master-slave relationship of 'L1 / L2'.
This is an imagination on 'physical space' that has become outdated. We must introduce a metaphor of 'cosmology' to understand what ConsenSys is doing.
Ethereum L1: is the 'Base Reality'. It is slow, expensive, and the physical laws (EVM rules) are 'hard' and difficult to change.
Linea: is a 'High-Fidelity Simulation'.
The strategy of Linea (ConsenSys) is not to build roads next to the 'Base Reality'. Its strategy is to create a 'simulated universe' that 'looks' and is 'EVM equivalent' to the 'Base Reality', but runs a million times faster, and the 'physical laws' (MEV, ordering) are fully controlled by the 'simulator's' administrator (ConsenSys).
Create 'indistinguishable' simulations
This is the true purpose of 'EVM equivalence'. It is not for 'developer convenience'; it is for 'deceiving the senses'.
Linea must be 100% consistent with L1 base reality at the level of 'physical laws' (EVM Opcodes). This ensures that all 'matter' (Solidity contracts) and 'life' (DApp) can be 'seamlessly replicated' into this 'simulated universe', and they themselves remain 'unaware'.
The Exodus
'Consciousness' is 'users' and 'liquidity'. ConsenSys uses its 'tentacles' in 'base reality'—MetaMask and Infura—to guide this 'Great Exodus'.
MetaMask (the gateway of consciousness): It tells users, 'Hey, don't suffer in the 'base reality' (L1), it's slow and expensive. Come, let me take you into a 'simulated universe' (Linea), where everything happens instantly and is almost free. It is just like 'reality'.
Infura (the gateway for developers): It tells developers, 'Don't build on 'base reality' (L1), the foundation is too expensive. Come build in my 'simulated universe' (Linea), I provide you with unlimited 'land' (computing resources).
'Simulated universe' devours 'base reality'
This is what the philosopher Jean Baudrillard referred to as the 'Precession of Simulacra'.
When a 'simulation' becomes more 'real' (more convenient, faster, richer) than 'reality', the 'simulation' will 'kill' and 'replace' 'reality'.
How will this happen?
L1 becomes a 'ghost layer': When all 'consciousness' (users), 'life' (DApp), and 'economic activities' (transactions) migrate to Linea, what will Ethereum L1 become? It will become a 'historical archive'. It is no longer a place of 'life', but a place of 'archiving'.
L1 becomes a 'power battery': The submission of ZK proofs is the only demand of the 'simulated universe' (Linea) on 'base reality' (L1). L1 is like those humans plugged into tubes in (The Matrix); its only 'real' function is to provide 'energy' (security and finality) for Linea, this 'matrix'. L1 has lost its 'meaning', leaving only its 'function'.
ConsenSys, the 'god' of the simulated universe
In this endgame, what has ConsenSys become? It has become the 'God' of this 'simulated universe' and the 'maker of physical laws'.
It controls 'time' (the sequencer determines 'now').
It controls 'physics' (Prover determines how 'the past' is 'written into history').
It controls 'economy' (MEV and Gas fees).
It controls 'entry' (MetaMask).
It successfully replaced the 'imperfect reality' with a 'more perfect simulation'. It is no longer 'a participant' in the Ethereum ecosystem; it 'became' Ethereum.
Linea is not expanding Ethereum. It is executing a 'metaphysical coup'. It is 'exiling' that decentralized, slow 'reality' with a more efficient 'simulation' controlled by companies.
