It’s definitely real, at least for the amateur astronomy subs I (used to) mod. I suspect a lot of the traffic to askastrophotography or telescopes is from people googling stuff and browsing though mobile web, but since /r/astrophotography is just photos, most are just on the app
Probably varies a bit from sub to sub, but old reddit users are a clear minority. The vast majority use the app
https://github.com/Balackburn/Apollo
You’ll have to install AltStore (or Sideloady) on your computer + phone to resign the app each week (this can happen automatically if they’re on the same wifi network). You can make your own personal API key at https://old.reddit.com/prefs/apps/ (It’s limited to 100 requests per 10 mins, which you wont run into browsing by yourself). Also as long as you moderate a subreddit (I think even if it’s just an empty one you make), NSFW content wont be blocked on the API.
Also while you’re sideloading, I’d highly recommend uYouPlus for a better youtube app
It’s at least possible to sideload Apollo and use your own API key for it.
Refreshing the ublock caches work most of the time however if it doesn’t, clicking the share button and then ‘embed’ just brings up a regular non-blocked video player
The starliner astronauts are still up there (and will be until they return on the crew 9 capsule in February). This is the crew that went up before them returning to earth