Funny, I've mostly seen complaints that Mastodon is "empty".
Some tips:
Pixelfed has been around for a couple of years. I created an account in the summer of 2022. But it didn't become popular until there was an app. A web app that does the same isn't enough. If it isn't in App Store/Play it doesn't exist for most people (which is something all Fediverse devs must think about).
Anyway, plenty of information about the development pace was available for anyone who wants to make an informed decision before they send their money somewhere. Apparently >2000 people thought it was worth it.
A decentralised Bluesky won't work. We have all heard the arguments that it's totally impossible to decide which Fediverse instance to join. Surely that problem will doom Bluesky's decentralisation efforts.
/s
If Bluesky becomes federated with multiple instances, it will be just as impossible to enter as ActivityPub-based services apparently are since instance-selection is a blocker.
RIght?
;)
For lots of people it'll be less confusing. They open their app store and search for this Pixelfed they've heard of and find an official app. That's what they expect.
I don't have any recommendations, but I'm sharing information about train travel through a Mastodon account in Swedish https://mastodonsweden.se/@interrailinfosvenska I wish you good luck creating a new community in the Fediverse! And I have posted a challenge for a similar thing in Sweden.
The FB export files have everything (your posts, comments, reactions etc) as html files and images/videos.
Getting it from those files into parts that can be uploaded somewhere else will take some work. Either with programming if OP has knowledge, or copy-paste.