So then this presents a new oddity: apparently people can override a user block, simply by tagging the other person’s name?
The instance block and the user blocks work differently. The instance blocks affects the communities of the blocked instance, not the users of that instance.
I just checked with an alt where I have hexbear blocked, I can still see their comments. Not sure about their posts, they only created them on the hexbear communities.
Thank you not only for your large efforts to actually improve things where you are at, but also for making this place more worthwhile to visit!:-)
Happy to help!