I'd add to the suggestions Friendica too. Unfamiliar with Piefed (maybe I'll create an account on the flagship instance to try out), but the other two also allow following microblogging stuff (e.g. Mastodon), as well as having microblogging functions to thread posts (e.g. boosting and tags).
Preaching the choir here, but please use it as a motivation to feed the fediverse more. 👌
And related to this, a good use of the fediverse is that, if there's nothing inherently bad about what you're trying to post but your chosen instance is tripping like Reddit, you can just give the finger to it and pick another instance. Or if the community is the one tripping, you can make your own, or look for an already existing alternative.
All sources are biased. The ones that say they aren't are trying to trick you. Understanding the bias of what you consume allows sifting through to get the information.
Biggest middle finger I could give to Google, never being unsubscribed from channels they shadowban, unless they temper their (seemingly forgotten) RSS feed function itself. Also the same channels saved on Grayjay and PipePipe for redundancy sake.
As for a specific instance, maybe point to medium-sized servers, so bigger ones don't get more stressed than they already are, and the user isn't greeted by a barren default feed were they to join a smaller one?
Also in line with both situations, meat, salad and beans go great together. 👌