Many people think that one day, there will emerge an algorithm that magically and automatically manages your node to achieve maximum profits. Then, LN basically becomes a staking pool where access to capital is the only competitive lever.

I think this scenario is unlikely for the same reason that there is no magic portfolio that always returns maximum results. People create algos to trade stocks profitably, but as soon as a critical mass of capital is deployed by the algo, all the arbitrage is depleted and another strategy will outcompete it.