Seems in line with my own thinking of the situation. The Byzantine empire was built on its ability to tax its land (Cappadocia primarily) and raise soldiers from said land. When they started to lose land however their empire increasingly began to erode beneath them as they became unable to re-coup their losses which became an avalanche following the twelfth century.
I.E. prevent the Byzantines from losing territory the longer they last.
I do wonder if a Turkic or Arab or Slavic wholesale conquest may be better in the long term rather then short term. If we go the Chinese route it would allow for the Byzantine Greeks to absorb culturally and economically their conquerors and eventually regain their own independence as opposed to the slow retreat that saw the Byzantine Greek identity culture marginalized piece meal.
I.E. prevent the Byzantines from losing territory the longer they last.
I do wonder if a Turkic or Arab or Slavic wholesale conquest may be better in the long term rather then short term. If we go the Chinese route it would allow for the Byzantine Greeks to absorb culturally and economically their conquerors and eventually regain their own independence as opposed to the slow retreat that saw the Byzantine Greek identity culture marginalized piece meal.