Hive is indeed a small platform (in terms of user numbers).
But that is not the problem.
Nowadays even the smallest Facebook groups (for example with a few hundred members) have more real interaction than the Hive blockchain.
The problem is that most Hive users focus so much on the monetary aspect that they forget (do not care) about the content.
It is hard to reach actual readers on Hive, even with unique content.
Because most Hive users do not even care about the contents. They care about the earnings.
This is the plain truth.