That's awesome! And I fully agree about nurturing the seeds - I firmly believe we will get there eventually, just that we cant start to think that we're past the point where a single person's contributions cant make or break a community quite yet.

Honestly even the linux communities are very little of the hobby aspect. It's mostly a linux news and meme aggregator at this point - very few (if any) people post about their own projects seeking to share or collaborate.

Linux is one hobby - a hobby that squabbles and fractures like a sack full of damp cats, admittedly, but all broadly united under the heading of "linux enthusiasts". There's no active communities for, say, sewing or 3d modeling or baking or hobby programming or game development or ttrpgs or woodcarving or calligraphy or cars or etc. etc.

Hell, we barely have communities for porn. I'm keeping the bdsmgonewild community supplied with OC almost on my own ( <3 you Avelo for everything you do!), and although engagement is great, it's still painfully slow to build communities.

I have great hopes for the lemmy/piefed/fediverse, it really does seem like we're past the point of criticality and we'll get there eventually, but it's simply not there yet and that's what we really need to establish ourselves.

Right now our only culture seems to be linux, halfhearted memes and political infighting.... and furry shit, I'm told, although I'm woefully lacking in furry content :(

Linux, self hosting, and general Internet nerd tech stuff are the only active fediverse niches. None of my other hobbies are remotely active enough to even mention. I've got a photofed account that's basically dead because there's zero interaction that would make it worth maintaining.