People join social networks to socialise --there's a clue in the name. If said network respects their privacy, doesn't shove ads in their face and doesn't annoy them, those are all welcome additional bonus points. But the primary reason is to interact with other people.

I think you're pretty misguided if you think many people will flock to a social network that [with respect] is almost unheard of, when they; can't even see how many other people are using it / read what kind of topics are being discussed there / gauge what the 'tone' of the place is / see whether anyone they know is already there.

You're doing the equivalent of asking people to pay to get into a nightclub, without letting them know what kind of people go there, what kind of music they play, or even whether there's anyone else inside.

It's not bandwaggon jumping to point this out. It's just a really obvious barrier to entry that you refuse to recognise, even though you've had it pointed out to you more than once and for over a year.