I’m not asking for “social media engagement metrics” - I specifically said I’m perfectly fine with numbers being hidden. I just want to be able to see the content the people I follow “post”. 
As mentioned in the OP, the main reason I want to be able to use Micro.blog for microblogging, is the writing tools. But when using social media like this, reading, replying and writing original posts are intertwined. I don’t think I should have to use Mastodon just to be able to see people’s boosts or be able to know if someone from Firefish liked what I posted (which they think I received).
Or perhaps reading stuff on Mastodon, and finding something I’d like to reply to - but since I want to write on Micro.blog, I have to use the share sheet or something to open the link from Mastodon in Micro.blog…
But after reading this discussion, I have some concrete suggestions (which should be evaluated individually):
(I wanted to have them work well for those who prefer Micro.blog the way it is now, and also have them adhering to the principles the platform is made upon.)
Suggestion A: Private and voluntary “appreciations” - without metrics
In user settings:
Know when someone appreciates one of your posts.
Automatically appreciate posts you bookmark.
Some details:
- I think the first should be on by default, but the second off.
- IMO, more emojis aren’t needed, and is not part of the suggestion - but it’s obviously possible.
- Have likes from other ActivityPub services “translate” to appreciations - and the other way around. If there are more emojis, just have all of them translate into a like, and have likes from ActivityPub map to the default one.
- Simply add a heart symbol or something under posts. And it can ofc. be named whatever.
- Maybe (if possible) have the heart not be there if it senses that a Micro.blog user doesn’t have appreciations turned on. (Or just send the click into the void. Also, the Fediverse doesn’t need to know either way.)
Suggestion B: User controlled inbound boosts
In user settings:
By default, see posts boosted by people you follow.
On other people’s profiles:
See/Don’t see posts boosted by Name.
Some details
- I’m not suggesting Micro.blog add the ability to boost posts - but I think user should be able to choose whether to see boosts done by the people they follow.
- It should also be possible to turn in on/off for individual accounts (whether you have the global option on or off).
- In time, something like what Phanpy does would be neat - but not needed in an MVP.
This is, of course, 100 % @manton’s call (I can only vote with my feet and wallet, and try to contribute ideas). But I truly belive those changes would make Micro.blog a substantially better place to consume, for those who want these things, while not messing things up for those who prefer it the way it is. It would also make Micro.blog play more nicely with the rest of the Fediverse.