That’s a really good way to frame it. I’ve noticed something similar on a much smaller scale.
Views, likes, or quick comments are nice, but the moments that really feel meaningful are when someone takes the time to write a longer message, point out a specific detail, or ask how something works. That’s usually when I know the project actually connected with them.
I don’t run a formal funnel or analytics heavy setup, but mentally I do separate “surface interest” from “real engagement.”
Direct feedback has been far more useful for improving the game than raw traffic numbers so far.