#m=image%2Fjpeg&dim=1140x754&blurhash=rKDm2GnifQnNKkxafQ%24%25wy*gV%40fQRPI%3DtQfQoMt3yYoyfQxtxWNHfQSNa%24lCjYfQoHx%5ER.fQNHNGIUWYfQWGr%3BoIfQf8a%25tmoffQoyn%23j%40fQozS1&x=8f0c6008710066de39b46c9da53a4a360b8d432d300255fe6a67893e27c8ebc5

weird statement targetting me but i'll bite...

Bitcoin proof of work can secure other things as well, hence merged mining, but the other thing being secured isnt as valued (and cant be) as Bitcoin itself and such a securing mechanism puts it at the control of those performing such work. Being less valued, and controlled, its more practical to just do straight Bitcoin mining if monetary value is what is sought. On the other hand, if pinning data or merklized trees is the goal, then the security of such is leveraging the strongest and most efficient blockchain to do so, while making a tradeoff in absolute control.

That said, bitcoin proof of work has nothing to do with other proof of work scenarios like that used for vanity address or npub generation, vanity note ids, network throttles, etc.