Thank you, @Eric, for chiming in. It is comforting to know that Zwift is aware of the issue and can expect something to be done about it in March.
Speaking for myself, I do not expect to see all the messages from everyone in a large event. You are absolutely right, @Eric, it would be an absolute mayhem! I do love, however, the chat behavior and its range prior to the January 21 update. Not only did they give us the ability to talk to everyone within the beacon blob if the ride has a leader, they also allowed us to communicate with each other at the start of a large leaderless event (e.g., BMTR Fundos) either to find friends or to form pace groups. Lastly, the chat range prior to the January 21 update also extended beyond one’s immediate blob, which meant one can talk to riders in front or behind them to join forces.
In short, thank you for acknowledging the issue and I am advocating for a chat behavior that replicates what it was before the January 21 update.