"takes users seriously. Respect their filters, don’t price gauge, eschew dark patterns, that jazz"
Is all this true because "you have a goal" or "we have strict rules"? because that's how most dating platforms start but when they grow the new people in the project don't care about the founders goal and it slowly enshittifies. That being said if its actually designed to give the users real control so they can prevent the enshittifcation then I'm very interested
"I’m still fretting over where (geographically) to launch"
If its an app why does there need to be a geo restricted launch? if there's a valid reason id say launch in the closest capital to you
"how to get to sufficient user density without spending a cartload of cash on marketing"
Unfortunately money does buy fame. it'll take ages to organically grow but using/creating a network will help (easier said then done)
"not being seen as spamming product placement in unwanted communities"
I feel that, its very dependent innit. you just gotta mention it without sounding like a shill tbh
those are both really cool projects, I'm always happy to see people make hardware that's actually a positive to humanity