I think it's easy to see likes as an evil holdover because they were used in a manipulative way by legacy algorithms.

Well yeah, like every. Single. Fucking. Aspect. Of. Everything. As Merdellow said....there's no point in gaming likes here.

Onlyzaps has become an extremist cult in a way, where people overcorrect so far in one direction they demonize random things that remind them of past bad experiences. Show me on this doll where the 👍 hurt you.

My opinion on it remains the same as when the debacle began. Likes aren't valueless, they just have no value to people who don't value them. Value is perceived, if you don't appreciate small gestures or social niceties then I think you're kind of a snobby dick head, but it's your right. And I respect your ability to shut it off, as long as you respect my ability to partake in what equates to a smile or wave.

Everybsingle like my friends and followers leave has value to me. Is it as valuable as a zap, a reply, a boost? Of course not! But I also have no expectations that people are going to pay me for a comment. I'm happy when they do, but I don't see it as the baseline for human interaction.