short answer is yes. its underlying code and structure could use serious optimization. its far better than it was in the kbin days, but the devs only have so much time.
ive been running an mbin instance for almost 2 years, but ive been doing to so on a very limited resources.. 2core/16gb server and its just barely good enough for less than 100 mau. i do push it to the limit on purpose though.. auto-subbing to almost every major lemmy and mastodon instance/community i can find.
i can handle the fediverse traffic well enough, but just like jerry when the scrapers come calling i have to resort to drastic techniques like blocking whole countries.