[danabramov]

I see! That's a huge topic by itself since you're raising a lot of questions. Maybe this could be a different article. My aim with this one was just to clarify the network topology because it is a prerequisite to having the other discussion, and too often that prerequisite is not there.

If you ask a list of specific questions, that would help a lot. I might be able to write something or reply inline here.

[Vinnl]

I felt the same: when folks ask this question they might not be using the correct terminology, but what they actually want to know is how many different PDSes (that's what you mean by "atproto hostings", right?) there are in a typical feed.

[ascorbic]

Currently, just over 3000: https://blue.mackuba.eu/directory/pdses

[JasonSage]

I appreciate that a lot! The article has a deliberate and explicit scope, and covers it well.

I'm hoping that perhaps my personal perspective shades why "instances" comes up, or why the reaction on HN seems to include the wider scope than the article itself covers.