Fediverse still has linux and github vibes. Which is good in terms of functioning and free and made in the spirit of comraderie. And bad in terms intuitive and easy usability.
Programmers either don't understand that "nice to look at and use" is actually a really important aspect of an app/program, or it's a lot harder to do that well than it seems from the outside. I really don't know. When it's just one person making the whole thing, it makes sense that they split their work where they can.
But when you're dealing with a serious contender for a major platform, it's not optional anymore, and it's not a normie thing.