If you want to establish a reputation in your field, and influence the discourse, there's no greater opportunity than doing it on Mastodon in 2022.
The network is growing exponentially. People on the network crave good content that reflects their interests. There are a lot of gaps that need filling!
Is it harder to use and manage than other platforms? Yes. That's your competitive advantage. If you can crack it before others do, you can reap the rewards.
If you wait, you'll miss out.