"Indeed, the repetition of subject sounds a bit odd. The sentence reads like two sentences to me. What about removing "it"?"

Forget about it. I think enough time has been spend on this proceeding already, and that we all have more important things to do than argue on a ",", a "it" or a "and". 
I do not see this reviewing process converging. If the draft cannot be published in its current state, so be it, I will just leave it on ArXiV.

Best regards