So, there are other ways to decentralize trust that don't involve proof of work or spoof of space or what have you. Proof of work is in fact not a way to decentralize trust as almost all blockchains will be vulnerable to 51% attacks. Big ones, like bitcoin, work because there is enough return to keep mining pools competitive. Likewise there are other ways to circumvent censorship. I don't believe Anna's Archive uses any blockchain other than for payments for example. Again, using bitcoin metadata to store information in a way that prevents censorship is cool but that is again because the size and power of the miners who protect the integrity of the blockchain. A boutique blockchain seems to be to be both needlessly complicated and vulnerable to attack that make the idea of a boutique shared public ledger questionable.

I have done a lot of work in the higher Ed space and many people have suggested to me over the years that "what we need" is a blockchain of course grades and credentials. I struggle to understand why we "need" that or if it was needed, why that would be better than getting a transcript directly from the University or from a public clearing house say College Board. If a public ledger was of generic use, why would the NCAA Transfer Portal not already be using one?

Your milage may vary (as they say) but this is just what my gut is telling me.