Why can’t it be as simple as fuck Facebook! I don’t want a multi billion dollar corporation playing in my sandbox.

I've been a developer for awhile and you would be surprised how many companies can't get out of their own way to improve their products.

I think you're right. Imagining the instances as a bunch of a little reddits with their own subreddits that I can subscribe to and interact with is easier for me to wrap my head around.

I agree that e-mail analogy doesn't make a lot of sense. Honestly just using it was the best way to learn. I'm already finding communities on other instances and commenting and engaging with them.