@J12t netsplits could be an issue for a real time chat, but for federated non real time ( Mastodon, PixelFed, PeerTube ) I think splits are fine

It makes sense for the OP to get correct numbers, but for others the numbers in their orbit are sufficient

At a concert tour I only see the people at the shows I attend, not all the venues

Even for real time chat, we really only need to see the messages, not necessarily those who aren't active

We are not a number, but we are a critical mass :)