174
“What’s so great about Hexbear? Why do people keep talking about Hexbear? What’s so special about this instance?”
(hexbear.net)
Maybe it is more than an instance. Maybe it is an idea, a world-historical vanguard, light itself. 
actual attempt to answer (cringe)
We’ve been around for three years on a lemmy fork before federation. The lack of federation for years as well as the place we splintered off from (/r/chapotraphouse) already having a unique microculture within Reddit has given this instance, in my opinion, a distinct culture compared to general-purpose and even other hobbyist instances.
Regarding specifics, Hexbear is a vehemently queer-friendly/intersectional anti-sectarian socialist instance. Check us out 
Incredible posting powers are bestowed upon those who swear by the volcel pledge.
While incels are watching Andrew Tate and complaining about how women don't like nice guys, we study the blade
While noncels are consenting to intercourse, we politely decline to dedicate the time and effort to shitpost on a fringe online forum.
So much time wasted trying & failing to get laid, or succeeding in getting laid. Meanwhile we're having 200+ comment threads on who would win in Super Smash Bros. Melee if Enver Hoxha played against Amadeo Bordiga.
After crawling through their Wikipedias a bit, I feel confident that Amadeo is a bigger introvert and would therefore be better at smash. He seems more likely to go, "well hold on a minute, what if I press this button and hold this direction?" Enver looks much easier to frustrate with a device at which point his thinking would lock up and he'd just walk off the stage.