My take: Discord will slowly enter the arena with the likes of Google, MS, Meta, Apple, Valve for their massive user network. The amount of resources needed to sustain free offerings for so long make it a nearly insurmountable moat for others to compete.
Even if one could reproduce their tech (which I doubt, they are top-tier), individuals would drown under hosting costs. They've positioned themselves incredibly well.
You think discord is the same order of magnitude as a Microsoft or Google? Both of whom own major operating systems, browsers, ad platforms, office and workspace suites, app stores, cloud providers, search engines, maps products, developer tools suites, robotics, research laboratories, AI products, meeting and chat infrastructure, email products and any a million other things?
The moat there is staggeringly large comparatively.
I feel like you're nitpicking my comparison and misunderstanding what I said. I did not say these companies were technically equal. If you have more questions after rereading my statements, feel free to drop them in this thread.
Even if one could reproduce their tech (which I doubt, they are top-tier), individuals would drown under hosting costs. They've positioned themselves incredibly well.