Mastodon looks like Twitter, functions like Twitter, apes Twitter's features such as using @username, and even calls its posts "Toots." You really can't honestly argue that Mastodon isn't trying to be Twitter.
Look, I get it - it's not Twitter therefore it's a failure. And some people are ok with that, I really don't get why the need to campaign against Fediverse, it isn't killing anybody's dog.
I never said Mastodon was a failure because its not Twitter. I'm somewhat skeptical but I think the jury is still out on Mastodon. There is a lot of potential there. Part of me thinks the Fediverse is a great idea but it causes more problems than the value you get from it.
using pieces that work well and that users enjoy doesn’t preclude you from also doing other things differently.
just because hacker news has usernames, comments, and voting, that doesn’t mean it’s “trying to be reddit”
there are countless little things one can change that make it an entirely different experience even if some features are similar.
just like hackernews to reddit, the experience i’ve had on mastodon has been a noticeable improvement over twitter. yes, there are comments and voting in hackernews, but the experience is noticeably different—and better—than reddit.
This isn't "shares some features", this is directly copies the look and functionality of Twitter. It may have some differences, but so much is the same you can't argue that isn't what they were going for.