There is no mass market solution to both the problems Reddit solves and the ones Lemmy solves. Anything like Reddit which is optimized for easy access and broad engagement will draw a lot of non-contributing users, a lot of spammers, trolls, etc., is unwieldy to run, and will need to suck eventually when it comes time to monetize the network effects. Anything like Lemmy, which can be self-supported and necessarily allows people to run and manage their own fiefdoms in ways that are manageable for them, means there is an added layer of complexity which inhibits easy access and broad engagement. To the extent Lemmy can be made easier to navigate, sign up for, or create communities with, it should be. No one should have to recompile a Lemmy kernel or anything, not that it's anything like that. Neither should anyone expect or even want it to be Reddit, which just deferred figuring out how to sustain itself during a prolonged giveaway of utility before its inevitable enshitification.

That's assuming the goal is to get to 'mass market'.

Lemmy existed before the Reddit exodus. It will exist when they all go back.

In that case, why even bring up Lemmy as a Reddit alternative? It just serves to attract people who won’t be good users and waste their time

Lemmy has the same functionality, and allows people to both control their own conditions and talk to anyone. That's the reason this whole ruckus is happening. Centralized alternatives don't have that. I don't know who said lemmy is an alternative to reddit, because just like mastodon/twitter, it's not. Or rather, not so simple.

Some people like desktop Linux and don't care whether it's for the masses or not.

Early internet was good because there were technical barriers to entry. Then the floodgates opened.

IMO, this will be the future of high quality interaction. Either small communities that are federated to prevent the same issue forums had, or places that charge a monthly fee for entry.