Fellow 'Fediversers,' what keeps you hanging on here despite the "FV" being a work-in-progress, with all its built-in, various bumps & difficulties to experience along the way?

“Sometimes there’s a man… I won’t say a “hero,” because what’s a hero? But sometimes there’s a man who… well, he’s the man for his time and place!” – Sam Elliot (the Stranger) from the glorious The Big Lebowski

You know that classic quote about standing on the shoulders of giants (and pioneers)? Honestly, in so many ways, that’s how I truly feel about the good ol’ Fediverse.

So, to sum up– who are YOUR heroes here, and what does keep you hanging on here, baby..?

EDIT: For people wondering about what kinds of ‘bumps & difficulties’ I’ve personally experienced, here’s a tiny sampler:

https://piefed.social/post/1431056#comment_8685458

That’s been the whole Internet for a good chunk of my life. This feels more comfortable to me than slick corporate sites.
Yeah, being terminally online on my 4th decade has taught me that the polish usually comes with caveats, such as a ™️