Merge in what way? In terms of user interaction, they already are merged. Lemmy users can comment and make threads in kbin communities and vice versa.

And in terms of underlying codebase, there isn't anything to merge. Lemmy and kbin are written in two very different programming languages. Trying to unify them would mean huge amounts of effort for no tangible gain.

Because that goes against the fediverse's philosophy

This is all about being decentralized

Ironically, this platform of federated smaller servers makes it impossible for users to hold an entire "subreddit" hostage like is happening on Reddit. It also makes it impossible for any one company to decide what the future of the Fediverse looks like. As my girl Martha would say, "It's a good thing."

That's because they are very different technologies and approaches. They share the content through ActivityPub but that's mostly it.

They kind of are merged in some ways. A lemmy user can see & interact with Kbin things, and vice versa
https://fedidb.org/current-events/threadiverse

What do you envision them merging accomplish?

Content in kbin is available on lemmy (and mastodon) Content on lemmy and mastodon is available in kbin

Reddit is burying itself. Besides, the point isn't for reddit to die, the point is to strip it of the ability to control the information and profit from the work of users.

Remember, all those API hits spez is whining about not making money from are posts and comments from us, the users and ex users of reddit via 3rd party apps. Those posts and comments are what made reddit valuable, not the fact that reddit existed as a forum server.

Secondarily, never forget that part of spaz' plan is to keep all the nsfw posts locked into the reddit app, thus profiting off of the bodies of redditors directly, and/or by the links to onlyfans, fansly and other sources that have taken over most of the nsfw subs.

In other words, he wants to be a cyber pimp.