[nkuttler]

> A big problem is that you don't actually see content on other instances

What do you mean? On lemmy you simply click "all" and see a feed from all federated sources, on kbin that seems to be the default. When you open threads/posts you see comments from all sources. The other stuff doesn't exist yet as the platform is very new. You can help.

[pluto_modadic]

this isn't strictly true and the weird edge cases add more mental energy than conforming to the expectation of "all of the content I was expecting".

For example, clicking on one of the profiles I follow, and then their followers. This will only show the profiles I also follow on that remote server. Do that again, and it gets even worse.

Where instead, the "thing you expect to happen" is to list, 1:1, their follow list as it exists on the remote server.

Other things, for example, not fetching someone's post history earlier than before you followed them, when you're browsing their profile. e.g., a user with 100 posts that you just followed.

I'm aware of the technical reasons (you weren't subscribed), and the open source reasons (not enough volunteers to fix the bug); but both are inadequate to a new user, frustrated and lonely, struggling with a lack of network effects, where having a delightful app might save that experience.