I just realised they are manually approving new sign ups in batches so it may take a while to get on there, I guess. Probably why I had the issue with logging into it via Boost
Batches are approved about twice weekly last I heard, and when there isn't a new botfarm applying 100s of accounts, you should be processed at the next batch.
any recommendations for an instance?
Nope, I just choose mine by country of where I am (after moving on from lemmy.world because the blocked a bunch of piracy communities).
Probably a dumb question - moving from lemmy.world would keep your content in that instance, so what if you've spent a lot of time there and have a bunch of comments and shit, do you log back in if you need stuff or just purged?