The accepted answer from a Bitcoin researcher sums up the merge problem pretty well; "As for the merge, this is still being discussed and we do not have a good contingency plan."
Why would there be any need for a contingency plan?
Bitcoin needs an internet connection to work properly. If you don't have a functional internet connection then you don't get functional Bitcoin either, sucks to be you.
>> Why would there be any need for a contingency plan?
That question is probably best put the person that wrote the statement and mentioned that it was under discussion: Christian Decker. He is a published block chain researcher and may have a good answer for you.
