I do not claim to be an export on this topic, but afaik blabbers initial selling point was to sort the settings in a way more accessible menu and overall adapt

I do not claim to be an export on this topic, but afaik blabbers initial selling point was to sort the settings in a way more accessible menu and overall adapt the app to the other messengers that dominate the market: Rounded, more bubbly text displays, more sensible menu integrations, the ubiquos little checkmarks to display delivery/read status etc. monocles started as a project to reverse/refine some features like the auto-link preview the blabber guy added which isn't necessarily wanted when in unknown group chats, because previewed links might be illegal in the users jurisdiction. Overall both are very frontend centric modifications, focusing on user comfort.