@jerry
"A major factor in your experience on the fediverse has to do with the instance you sign up to. Despite what the folks on /r/mastodon will tell you, you won't get the same experience on every instance. Some instances are much better keeping the garden weeded than others. If a person signs up to an instance that is not proactive about blocking trolls, they will almost certainly be exposed to the wrath of trolls."
[...]
"I think the ambiguity here is why we continue to see the problem repeat itself over and over - there is no obvious owner nor solution to the problem."

I think you've accurately diagnosed the problem and proposed a solution. We need to well advertise and fund instances that "keep their gardens weeded" so that new people joining Mastodon can have a good experience from the beginning.

I was lucky enough to be recommended your instance when I first joined and have had a great Mastodon experience.