All networks start small. What happens upon seeding is we often find, increasingly interesting overlaps, someone, somewhere different, or someone different finds it. Because it's an open network, not a gate kept network, or at least more open. Over the long run, the fediverse will increase in population, and popularity, overtaking networks whose primary purpose is advertising and data collection. So yes, start small, try and see what happens. This is his we build sustainable networks, for the people, by the people.