Meta does a lot more than manage a Mastodon server. A single full-timer is likely all that is needed. Two to reduce burnout. Those costs are still high, but you shouldn't discredit the notion that eight full timers is an exaggeration. The top comments on the toot you link are the volunteers saying exactly that.

[–] rglullis@communick.news 0 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

In practice, you'd need some redundancy because the admins will also need time off, vacation, get sick.

So, I am not disputing that 8 FTE is too much. What I want to make clear is this: there is not a single instance out there that is getting enough money in donations to pay even one admin, which is a clear indication that the model is not sustainable.

[–] Blaze@feddit.org 1 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

that the model is not sustainable.

18 months after the API debacle on Reddit, most of the instances are still around. If the model was not sustainable, wouldn't have all closed?

[–] rglullis@communick.news 0 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Your question is as short-sighted as "If global warming is real, then why is it snowing in Southern Europe?"

No, a system that is not sustainable does not imply that all the ecosystem dies simultaneously. It just means that it relies on a continuous stream of idealistic people coming in, willing to help, only to collapse eventually later.

[–] Blaze@feddit.org 1 points 2 hours ago

If admins need more money, they can ask for help to their communities.

Lemmy.zip seems to be doing okay: https://lemmy.zip/post/29448608?scrollToComments=true

Lemm.ee had a question about a donation link and never answered https://lemm.ee/post/49850162?scrollToComments=true

I know a few instance admins who runs their instances on hardware they would be using anyway.

Again, if some server admins need help with money, they should definitely ask, but I haven't seen such request ever.