Lemmy still has a small user base compared to sites like Reddit. Some of those features came out of managing huge user bases. And naturally when you have a huge userbase, you have people wanting to make money. Some honestly, some not. The site itself sees the potential to make money. Over time good intentions tend to melt away and the demons run amok.

The trick will be if places like Lemmy and Mastadon and whatever are able to over come this and remain pure.