@null
> This thing is his baby
Mastodon is his baby. The fediverse existed before Mastodon and would continue to exist if John Mastodon walked away tomorrow and project folded.
> it hasn't taken off in comparison to other services
Of course not, his project isn't based on domesticating users to be milked for profit, and he didn't take startup growth hormone (VC money). Mastodon's been doing pretty well these last few months though.
You're basically making excuses at that point, trying to spin away the point, which is that it hasn't taken off.
That the guy didn't acquire the resources to make his platform more successful starts with the recognition that the platform has not been so successful.