Dear @stef1,
I think the biggest challenge we face here is that there is very little new happening here, in the development sense. So there's little to be excited about as an existing user, and subsequently not much to be excited about as something we'd want to go OUT and tell the external world about.
And yes, you're also quite right that people tend to get "stuck" in their own communities... and people only join communities that already have big memberships, rather than joining communities that actually cater to their interests.
Sadly, the stagnant situation with new development reminds me ever so much of Steemit circa 2018 when people were also complaining that everything was tired looking, and nothing new was coming down from "management."
So yes, it's not easy to remain enthusiastic and inspired...
It is a shame that in order to make people to go around and comment others, such Challenges like Engagement challenge is created and people do write not because they like but because they get Upvote and be seen. That makes me feel sick.
The developer is the person who does write a program because he likes it and enjoys it but not because then he can receive a better Upvote from SC01. Everything on this platform is for SC01.
Where are people who do something because they like it and the comments because people like the posts. There is a huge difference between Steemit and Hive and I do not like to say that but Hive is much better.