Of course, there are advantages to statehood as well. Having your citizens fully eligible for all forms of federal assistance, when your population’s average wealth and income is well below national averages? That has some advantages.

Especially since Puerto Rico is right in hurricane alley. This is going to become increasinly relevant, fast.

Also, it seems like such a huge issue to force unless there’s a giant majority one way or another, which would only happen if there was some MASSIVE benefit or detriment to becoming a state (which is totally possible). If they marginally decide to go one way, and the next years the population realizes it was a huge mistake due to changes, they’re screwed.

Just as an example, the U.S. could actually go mad, and Peurto Rico would want nothing to do with them. If they were already a state… that would suck. Alternatively, maybe we hit some climate tipping point sooner than expected, and hurricanes become such an existential threat that they need federal help to deal with them. If they became independant, well, that’s not an option anymore. Both very possible scenarios.