@dragonfrog I would also add as an optimistic take, don't be so sure you "wouldn't be here"

When I wanted to join fedi, I asked a "veteran" friend if I could join their instance. They were not accepting new members, but asked their network and found someone who got me an invite link to where I landed. To this day, I don't know who actually invited me

As another reply put it, it's more the Web of Trust model. Which requires adjustment, but I think scales better than many think

@alice