I dislike Mastodon too, but what changes do you think Mastodon and Lemmy need to be a viable option?

Twitters real issue is that it’s dated. Have you seen modern social networks? They are highly visual and much more stimulating for better or worse. Copying Twitter might as well be like copying a 1920s radio for how outdated it is. Complete paradigm shift since then with messaging and video.

Not all change is good, progress for progress' sake is an example of this. The more "visual and much more stimulating" nature of those "modern social networks" stands to "dated" mostly text-based communications as "high sugar deep fried processed" food stands towards "traditional" food made with fresh ingredients. Sure, the kids will gorge themselves on it but they'll end up as obese adults suffering from low insulin sensitivity a.k.a. diabetes type 2. Twitter itself already resembles a Twinkie compared to the home-cooked lunch served by NNTP so it is not as if copying the Twitter model is something to aim for.

Have you tried getting user growth with this lecture?

Lecture? More a statement of fact, you'd be surprised how many people are looking for less invasive, more performant services.

Yes, there are plenty of potential users to be found. Were you around when Google first came to the market? If so you may remember the sparse just-give-me-what-I-want layout of their search engine. People flocked to Google. Remember the first Google ads, just a few text lines? Take Craigslist as an example and notice how its sparse layout makes it work.

BTW you should update your 'about' text which states that 'This account is no longer active in protest of Hacker News censorship' given that the account seems to be active.