W/. that in mind, I might have some helpful context to share about academia as a profession & culture (as someone who left academia a few years post-PhD & currently works in an academic-adjacent role in another field), but a full response would go beyond a BSky comment.

If a longer answer would be helpful, you can find me on Twitter (I have an account w/ the same handle I don't use much) for DMs, or reach me at a gmail w/ the same handle (sandstoneviolin). In any case, good luck navigating this.

I mean I am as familiar with academia as just about anyone can be. That's not really the issue. The issue is the difficulty networking with other researchers and getting them to consume the work that I've produced. It's a lot easier when you're in academia proper.