As I noted, nobody can give the Kurds independence, since their neighbors won't permit it, for the reason I cited. I think the Kurds are smart enough to realize this, and won't push for it--as long as they can stay de facto independent--which they are now.
But the Iraq "national" government had best realize the Kurds feel very strongly about this--and also about Kirkuk-- that Kirkuk belongs to them.   The longer the "national" government puts off the decision on Kirkuk, the less likely the Kurds will want anything to do with "Iraq"--even sharing oil revenues from "Kurdistan".

In the long run the main question is just how weak the"central government" will be--since south Iraq wants a similar arrangement to that of "Kurdistan".