Speculations The admirals are easily replaceable gears. The gorosei are immortals and the direct subordinates of Imu. Its pretty clear who are the real villains.

[ShadyOjiro]

Even the yonko seem to be replaceable. WB was replaced by BB. Kaido and BM were replaced by Luffy and Buggy.

The gorosei are the only force that haven’t been replaced

The puppets change but the puppeteers remain