Some people can end up being so "independent" that they end up disconnected from reality, itself. I believe we can in touch with the mainstream without feeling forced to participate in anything we don't believe in.
The thing that's cool about Hive is that it allows people to do something they already do: participate in social media activities.
And yes, if you add something worthwhile, it becomes the "front window" to the world that draws others in. Which is how I ended up on Hive, in the first place... reading an article someone had share on some external site.