Having separate communities around the same topic could be a good thing? This would mitigate the hivemind phenomenon caused by the voting system with a large user base. You could discuss with like-minded people but keep the opportunity to read diverging opinions when you want/need to.
I would also like “hubs” on topics to discover communities, but a common feed might be counterproductive.
Yes, you can click on the “Toggle sidebar” button on the top right