Fedibridge

Reddit has the benefit of being closed source and therefore having secret anti spam filters. We don’t have that benefit and therefore the new user registrations need to be rigorous.

This is a bs argument considering that instances can and indeed a few already do maintain similar automated anti-spam and auto-moderation tools. The droves of instances that choose to function as clubs with application process aren't doing it that way because it's the only way, they're doing it because they want to or don't understand how to set up automoderation tools.

Reddit doesn’t require any but the downside is that they ban your account at the drop of a hat if they as much as suspect you’re a spammer or bot. However it does leave their registration appearing “simple”.

That is true, and it does seem to be a problem on instances that use aggressive automod like sh.itjust.works, though it does streamline the process by going from preemptively trying to deem people unworthy to punishing and cleaning out the ones who cause trouble (give or take a few false positives). People don't have to be worried they won't be rejected if all they want to do is look at memes, upvote, and laugh (we shouldn't expect more from them on a Reddit alternative).