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Private/Federated blockchains are just applied cryptography, which is not the same as the technology behind bitcoin; blockchain & proof-of-work.

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Agreed. I think the ship has sailed on the term "blockchain" and it no longer requires decentralization. It means a signed transaction log which can't be secretly forged. Not as sexy as bitcoin, but language is fluid and I think the definition has shifted.

> "which can't be secretly forged"

Not possible without proof-of-work

Sure it is. If all blocks are relayed to all participants, theyll have a record of whenever theres an attempt to change the block history.

All they need to do is show two coflicting blocks signed by the "approver"

How was this not possible earlier?

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