Good observations. It seems like you have the balance right, but these are my observations.
I feel like I follow mostly early adopters, devs, and thoughtful people, and see Bitcoin talked about not often (other than the current debate). Due to following technical people, I do often see talk about NOSTR. But is the expectation that it will be talked about only as often as on other platforms? Unreasonable expectations.
Growth will and must be slow, and that's okay. That's strength. I would caution without being too concerned about trying to make NOSTR growth an activist project beyond personal goals. Things work best when everyone does what is best for their local concerns and that of those around them.
As for algorithms, people will use the best ones available. The best ones possible aren't available (posts from the people I care about in chronological order, filterable by me in myriad understandable ways that aren't opaque.)
Reaching out to those who do not yet understand NOSTR exists and meets their existing needs I encourage. Reaching out for those who don't yet understand freedom, privacy, sovereignty, and the broken monetary system, I encourage. Changing NOSTR toward what people who don't understand these things want, I discourage.