@jdp23 @noracodes @inquiline 100% – really well put. I am a huge proponent of open-federation-as-a-rule, and I think it's the only way we "win" *but* I also think that there are millions of communities that for many and varied reasons need to break the rules.
I personally find it quite disturbing how "religious" (or, deeply politically aligned) the federations have become, and how quickly. We have way more in common, and I wish we could all work together more intentionally.