Lemmy is a stupid god awful name.

The first result you get on google is a dead singer. Every other search you will have him on the front page instead of what you’re trying to find. Contrast this to searching for something from reddit.

Case in point guitar reviews lemmy vs guitar reviews reddit

I can’t understand why every other fediverse name is so stupid as to be off putting to the average user.

Because during bad times the ones that make bad decisions don’t survive or at very least are removed from positions of power.

Bad times by themselves do not create good decision makers.