I like the Gemini Protocol, but — I think too many of the other small-net protocols try to mimic Gemini.
One alternative path that small-net & small-web communities could try is —
Make a new version of the HTTP protocol.
One that includes small-net values.
A small-net HTTP (HTTP/1.4 ?) server could be backwards compatible, such that extant web-browsers could see something (even if the experience is better in a small-net web-browser).