does anyone derive value from a displayable follow count? 

if so, what does it do for you?

i tend to be more trusting to higher followed accounts on here

contextual, i still make decisions based on behaviour/vibes, but when it's a blank slate and i'm discovering an account/person, i'm more likely to give the benefit of the doubt and respond to vague or weirdly phrased dms, rather than assuming spam

similarly, if a caster is thinking/casting thoughts in ways i don't fully comprehend, i might spend a little extra time, because there's a social signal that perhaps there's something worth listening to

nice — what is it about seeing that number that leads to your trust? 

and is it a contextual trust? or a general one?