You're using the wrong tools to browse the web if it seems that is the case.
The weird, creative, bordering on unhinged part of the web is still very much around and alive. It's just that you need to depart from the major social media sites and search engines if you want to find it again.
I’ve tried Marginalia about… probably 10 times, at this point? Every time I want niche search results. I haven’t found an interesting site through it, yet.
I love the concept and want it to work! I pay for Kagi; I value search.
The explore mode[1] is probably the tool you're looking for if you're just looking for something interesting / demonstration that the weird web still exists.
The weird, creative, bordering on unhinged part of the web is still very much around and alive. It's just that you need to depart from the major social media sites and search engines if you want to find it again.