[mapt]

Yes. And so complex to explain that it still isn't obvious what federation does or is after an afternoon of research by a tech enthusiast. Where does the data live? How does it spread? Who has control over it?

You could tell me that, but don't. The answers are very much besides the point if you can't explain it and the advantages of the arrangement in five minutes to somebody on the opposite end of the normal distribution of technical understanding to your average HN account. Network effects dominate most social network pros and cons, so if you can only educate five percent of the general population there isn't much point.