Wow, good effort on that!
you can boost or favorite, but I am – and I think you are probably – looking for something with more variety, like emoji responses, right?
Honestly, this is low down on my list. Yes, it would be great, but I have had enough trouble finding something that handles uploading videos ok. Emoji responses are not a mandatory thing for me.
Pixelfed is an interesting suggestion. It always feels like it’s intended to be public. Were you thinking each user would have to configure default privacy settings? I can see how to restrict to followers but haven’t yet found how to stop anyone being able to follow you. I think for me, if a new user has to set up the privacy settings to stop them posting everything public, that’s probably not the right platform.
BTW there is PixelDroid as a dedicated Pixelfed app, but it’s only on Fdroid.
Huh, some more crazy weather: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/529703/weather-heavy-rain-warnings-thunderstorms-snow-wind-forecast