@dansup the usage pattern for masto is very impulsive by nature compared to pixelfed, both in creating and viewing posts...more thought is put into the pictures shared and followers linger a bit longer to admire the pictures they are interested in.
But Pixelfed and Mastodon were also developed from opposite directions. You put tons of thoughtful effort into making a great picture sharing platform then added federation. Eugen started with federation and built up the platform from there