PieFed.zip does not add one of its default user-level instance blocks for the triad for new users does it? I thought it did for two of them but not Lemmy.ml. No major instance does afaict.

Lemmy.cafe is a tiny instance with only tens of users and had enormous technical problems a year or so ago that lasted for months. So I've never seen people recommend it since then.

PieFed.zip is about the best instance to recommend for general purposes - Lemmy.zip and programming.dev and discuss.online etc. are also quite nice. But no major ones block ML.

Have you thought about petitioning them to do so? I'm not pushing you to, just curious what your thoughts are there.