Nostr is only Nostr if clients implement the so-called "outbox model". If they do that then there will never be pressure to use centralized relays.
Of course anyone can implement a thing that looks like Nostr but actually isn't, but at least we should have the definitions clear and prepare the terrain while we have time so anyone will be able to spot any so-called "client" that isn't implementing Nostr correctly if they come.
Is there some kind of so-called-outbox-model.com keeping track of which clients are on which score? No idea how such scoring would work. Like if a client is reading from its own Nostr-wide index (in-house firehouse) but still writing to each user's specified outbox relays, what score is that? Versus a client both reading from inbox relays and writing to outbox relays—which I guess is top points 🤷
Would relay group chat not be considered nostr then?
Please stop spotting flaws in my arguments.
I would like to setup a relay again. Does it make sense ?
What is the most up-to-date guide and relay server to start with?
Can someone explain how the outbox model fixes this?
My understanding of the outbox model, is if 80% of people are only using the top 3 relays, because they're using the Twitter/Google/Facebook clients that only post to those respective relays, and their rationale is, "I don't care how it works. It gives me a wallet, looks pretty, is intuitive, and it always works" I could choose to ignore those top 3 relays, but that means I'm not seeing 80% of what's out there, and 80% isn't seeing me.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding the outbox model though.
(I would argue not being engaged with 80% of what's out there is not necessarily a bad thing, unless my goal was to reach the masses with my shilling)
