What functionality? Someone technical can do literally anything Discord can do with FOSS tools.

The functionality that should matter to free software projects is... freedom. I can forgive laypeople for not knowing any better, but it is pretty hard to overlook FOSS devs that should know better that -still- endorse Discord for FOSS development.

You have a misunderstanding of the value the service provides for the larger market.

They want a service, not software.

If you'd like to build a clone or even a better version? I'd love to see it! I might use it!

I do not need a clone of Discord. Matrix already exists with an open federated protocol and many alternate clients.

We get it dude, you like Matrix. Happy for you.

You _can_, but if you're running a FOSS project you probably already have a significant shortage of spare time. Most FOSS devs are not that idealistic: they want something that works and works reliably and not to be building their own platform just to be able to work on the project they actually want to work on.

Sure. So most devs should probably just pick an open platform that already exists like matrix, so people can choose their own client.