Just got back from a follow-up with the knee surgeon. He said he found a *lot* (his emphasis) more arthritis on my kneecap than he expected during surgery. Now, at long last, he's finally recommending a knee replacement.
He says the arthroscopy may have bought a couple of years before the replacement is needed, but it will have to be done.
My take: it's about damned time. I've been trying to get this knee replaced for over a decade.