A few points of lore
I'll be back in a minute.
[update]
Lore:
Mic Turner and Meredith Argent are the founders of the Alliance after the Caker rebellions on the gas platforms of Alioth - in game source: Tourist beacons around Alioth.
The story line of the Mycoid vaccine and the "Argent's Quest" super ship were retconned out as per Michael Brookes said so. Presumably to throw cold water on the expectation that The Alliance should have ships with Thargoid technology. I believe that the "trade with Thargoids" is also retconned out.
INRA are a covert organization - their backroom meddling does not invalidate the work and story of the PowerPlay characters nor make "s" of the CMDRs who bring PowerPlay to life.
There IS still some connection between Mic Turner Research Group, the Alliance Research bases in California Nebula. The potential is there to weaponise fungi angainst the Thargoids.
My personal expectation is that there is a set of content around Thargoids, Cordyceps fungus, Mycoid virus (from 'mycelium' or fungus), INRA, etc. This needs to come into the game and you are seeing one of the ways it's being brought in.
"Laughable unexpected outcome"
I don't know where you got the "unexpected outcome" from. Anyone aware of SDC involvement seems to have been "wait what?".
Why would anyone trust SDC?
SDC have undeniable expertise in PvP. They are also very famous / notorious. It is very flattering to have the interest and assistance of famous people.
There is also a core of PvP player groups at the top levels of Imperial player organization.
They seem to have a fluid membership and you see CMDRs in common among Achenar Immortals and SDC and so on. It is not completely unreasonable that there would be levels of personal trust between PAC leaders and SDC members. They may already sit in both camps.
This is what Drew wanted
The last thing I have issue with is how much agency and control you ascribe to Drew.
Often we try to do our best and things still turn out badly.
Frontier often have incomplete or placeholder elements and I think the Salomé pick a side was a cosmetic inclusion - not an unfinished exclusive choice. Frontier don't tend to force a chose that you can't change on a whim.
You've made a good summary in your video. Duly repped (already subscribed).
But I think some of your conclusions have ended up being too tin foil hat.
PAC did show remarkable arrogance.
The game did struggle to run this event.
The outcome does work for Drew (except that it was "Harry Potter" maybe Drew will use Potter's forum and and Reddit name: Beseiger)
But I don't think it was as well planned or as much "Drew's fault" as you suggest.
