Yes, but zaps are not the reason normies will come to nostr. That's my point. They can't be essential. We should focus on other stuff.
there are many reasons. curious about new technology, cancelled or shadow banned on another platform, they have friends that are here, etc. ask people like nostr:npub1yye4qu6qrgcsejghnl36wl5kvecsel0kxr0ass8ewtqc8gjykxkssdhmd0 or nostr:npub1r8wdfruydenz84fxfespcswuhcvyatx6umtd5xguexup49u500xskf50hn why they came. i'd guess people like nostr:npub13qrrw2h4z52m7jh0spefrwtysl4psfkfv6j4j672se5hkhvtyw7qu0almy possibly came for the zaps though. zaps may not be the initial reason for everyone, but apps like primal make it easy for the noobs to start playing with it. cash app is probably adding lightning addresses soon which should also help noobs get started with zaps.
Discussion
I don’t understand the logistics of: If it is not the reason people come it can’t be essential.
It can be still essential and but people can grasp it after they come here. It doesn’t need to be if A is true B is not true kind of simple. Bitcoin has many features decentralized, censorship resistant, limited supply, self custody..etc. If (let’s say) most of the people come for “limited supply” it doesn’t mean “self custody” is not essential.
Essential means absolutely necessary. If nostr needs zaps to be successful in a world where 1% of people use Bitcoin and even less lightning, then nostr will not hit mass adoption until AFTER Bitcoin does.
Nostr should be the gateway to Bitcoin, not the other way around. Again, we should focus on the "other stuff" in nostr.
My point is nostr is much bigger than just zaps and Bitcoin. A new paradigm for communication. Web sockets are essential. Relays are essential. Other stuff is essential. Zaps are but one other thing. Bitcoin is essential for a future society, and this essential for everything, not just nostr. I just think it's important to realize, zaps are not going to in board anyone but bitcoiners. I want to onboard as many people as possible.
That’s true NOSTR is capable of much more than what it is now. Zaps are good addition and add extra functionality to it and Bitcoin. I see them in a symbiotic relationship which I love them both.