I find that writing about the things I enjoy is pretty much key - Engagement is hit or miss, but that's okay since I know my content is pretty niche and there's only a handful of folks with interest in it, and that's fine. The folks who do comment are rock solid though, and that's really nice.

HIVE is definitely going to be better for you if you commit to the long haul. There's no magic money wagon here (mostly), so just being around and talking about the stuff that brings you joy is going to go a long way over time.

Congrats on 8800, that's a great spot to be in! I hope you're able to reach your 10k goal!