There's value in creating and maintaining a community for something you love. I imagine it's a bit like gardening: Pulling weeds and hauling mulch isn't fun, but when you take a step back you've created something nice.
Or something. I'm shit at gardening and never wanted to be a mod, probably for the same reason. And it would be far, far better to have your garden not be harvested by a megacorporation who can kick you off at any minute, but that's why I use the fediverse.