I also think there are too many categories that are sometimes confusing / contradictory in nature. And at first glance, the sub-forum organization also feels much more catered towards 68k-based machines to an unbalanced degree.
Here's my solution that hopefully appeals to both crowds of simplicity and segmentation:
Apple Hardware
Motorola 68k Macs (1976 - 1995)
Motorola 68k Desktops & Laptops (someone more versed in the 68k machines should refine this one, like segmenting Apple I/II/III and Macintoshes by architecture)
Other Hardware (Newton, Pippin, etc. - more thought required)
PowerPC Macs (1994 - 2005)
PowerPC 60x Desktops & Laptops (Whatever models are applicable)
PowerPC G3 Desktops & Laptops (Power Macintosh G3, iMac G3, PowerBook G3, iBook G3)
PowerPC G4 Desktops & Laptops (Power Mac G4, iMac G4, eMac, Mac mini, Xserve G4, PowerBook G4, iBook G4)
PowerPC G5 Desktops (Power Mac G5, iMac G5, Xserve G5)
Intel Macs (2006 - 2020)
Intel Core Desktops & Laptops (Mac Pro '06 - '08, iMac '06 - '09, Mac mini '06 - '10, Xserve '06 - '08, MacBook Pro '06 - '09, MacBook '06 - '10, MacBook Air '08 - '10)
Intel Core iX Desktops & Laptops (Mac Pro '10 - '19, iMac '10 - '20, Mac mini '11 - '18, Xserve '09, MacBook Pro '10 - '20, MacBook '15 - '17, MacBook Air '11 - '20)
Apple Silicon Macs (2020 - Present)
Apple Silicon Desktops & Laptops
Apple Software
Classic Mac OS (1984 - 1999)
System 1 - 6
Mac OS 7 - 9
Mac OS X (2001 - 2015)
Mac OS X 10.0 - 10.6
Mac OS X 10.7 - 10.11
macOS (2016 - Present)
macOS 10.12 - 10.16
macOS 11 - Present
Or something like that, which can be modified further (to also include the iDevices in detail as well). Either way, keeping certain subcategories grouped together ensures that no unused forums go to waste, and that all sections see sustained activity.
I have no investment in the other platforms and therefore cannot share equivalent alternatives for them at this time. However, as Tinker Different right now seems to be mostly comprised of Vintage Apple users that have usually joined here from /r/VintageApple, Macintosh Garden, MacRumors, and the others (and was also founded by the people in Mac Yak, uses a disassembled Macintosh logo, and a modified vintage Apple marketing campaign slogan as part of its name), it goes without saying that the forums should probably be a little bit more centered to them for now, in my opinion.
Anyway, that is all.