How many entries do you think there were when the first live version was announced only a few hours later (http://www.nupedia.com/pipermail/nupedia-l/2001-January/0006... )?

As a different metaphor than your "Octopus", this is "first light".

"First light" in astronomy is the first time a telescope is used. It doesn't need to start with an amazing or ground-breaking image.