> At the start, having just two channels was fantastic. First, it reduced the community ghost town effect by concentrating all activity into those two places.
I'm surprised to hear people keep re-learning this lesson. Back when web forums were popular, this was basically the one big mistake I kept seeing people make. Way too much compartmentalization.
> After [being shown a project in private] a few times, I proposed a new channel: [...] We didn’t try to force the community’s hand.
I think this could and should be generalized into "Avoid surprises". Communities generally do not react well to change with no announcement. Even if you know that a measure is strictly necessary (e.g. because your platform provider changed its terms of service in an impactful way), first give a heads up before you make a change. It goes a long way for public opinion. It's tempting not to, especially as time goes on and you feel like you have people's trust, but it's essential to ask first wherever possible.