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Bro, people into anime are almost always into other nerd cultures, too. I don't know a single nerd that's into just one thing.
Also, anime is extremely accessible and easy to digest, so it shouldn't be a surprise that it's the most popular.
/r/fantasy
IMO, pre-anime boom nerdom was not diverse either. >

This is a fair point! Though I wasn’t alive then so who knows. I think I lament what could’ve been more than what was. Though I’d still take the sheer quantity of Tolkien obsessed book nerds from back then over…whatever this is now
I’d like to hear you expand on that thought if you don’t mind though! Just curious >

There wasn't a sheet quantity of book nerds obsessed over Tolkien. There was just most people hating and beating up nerds for being nerdy.
You'd be lucky if you found.one or two fellow nerds because you were so repressed no one talked about their nerdy hobbies or interests. >

If I had gotten bullied more maybe I’d have been more interesting :(
Instead I grew up bitter and surrounded by weebs lmao the struggle >

I hate that your generation invented the derogatory term weeb. Your generation is the type of bullies generation celebrate our liberation from. That's what anime/marvel/etc is to my generation, a celebration of what we used to be closet interested in, and got our asses kicked for liking. It's basically our gay pride parade... lol >

Weeb isn't really derogatory these days. Just means someone who is invested into anime. The offensive term would be weaboo. >

I find both offensive. >

I suppose weeb could be used in an offensive way but tends to be another term for anime fan. >

Agreed it’s something I’ll even use affectionately to certain people lol not really meant to be hurtful >

What are you guys on about?
Harry Potter, star wars, MCU, DC TV shows, all non anime games, MTG, Warhammer. There all have huge communities and are not anime.
and this is coming from an anime fan >

I think the larger issue is just nerds who latch onto the most popular media/brands and then simply never branching off to other things because said brand/media keeps mass producing, giving no inventive to move onto something more fresh >

They are the most popular because people like them, if whatever you're talking about was most popular would you be complaining about them jumping on that bandwagon too?   Are you the type of person who cannot be happy and enjoy something that's popular, just because it's popular? Do you just drop your hobbies everytime other people atart joining you? lol >

How convenient that the corporations and brands with most power/money to advertise and mass produce like a factory continue to keep pulling in large audiences!
There’s nothing inherently wrong with enjoying what brings you joy…I just like a bit of variety is all. I assure you the most meaningful human art being made right now isn’t made by overworked Japanese men with one break a week or by directors being forced to follow excessive Disney mandates.
It’s independent artists, novelists and hell even great blockbuster movie directors like Guillermo del Toro and Taika Waititi! 
There are more niche things to enjoy out there and I don’t hate things when they become popular. That’s gate keeping and I hate it. I was beyond overjoyed when elden ring got Fromsoft a larger audience because it was DESERVED >

Interesting that you think Taika Watiti to be a good director.  Taika Watiti is a mess, and one of the directors Disney movies uses to ruin IP... Nothing more.
Also there's nothing that says people working long says can't also deliver quality. Some of those overworked Japanese people have delivered wonderful works of art, that would put Taika Watiti to shame >

Have you seen his other stuff besides Thor? Jojo Rabbit and What We Do in the Shadows are awesome >

Never heard of them >

You arent looking hard enough.