It has been no secret and quite honestly comes to no surprise by the lack of participation in the development circles around the PS4 and more specifically homebrew development on the console, Don't get me wrong there has been various developer's working their tails off and doing some amazing things on the platform and alot of great documentation on the console, which alot of that documentation can found at places such as the PS4DevWiki, but when has a scene or a community been about a few individuals or groups? It never has and no small groups of people can carry a scene by themselves, Around the scene you see things being stated like "anyone can help contribute" and while that is true due to many things being Open Source from some of developer's working on the PS4, However, what can we expect for a platform (past exploited firmware) that never had that current firmware window (as all other exploited devices typically have at some point)? That has been the longstanding issue for the PS4 Homebrew Community by not having an exploit that originates on the current firmware of that time of release. Even if that window is short (as it will be) it's vital as when that occurs the many who were on the fridge (or would not) buy a 2nd PS4 for Homebrew development/usage now can say "hey, I can just exploit on the console i already have (or one i can pick up at any store, until a new model/SKU/bundle with new fw is released)" it's a game changer for the Homebrew Community.The PS4 has never experienced this window and in my opinion is what exactly the community needs to achieve the next level and the #1 contributing factor of a sluggish scene in my view as its just a small niche platform within an already small niche audience that exploits their hardware.
There are plenty of developer's who have a PS4 currently and would not mind at all and even enjoy contributing to the PS4 Scene by developing and aiding in various projects , but also there is many of those same dev's who may not be very interested if they have to track down a model (or 2nd ps4) with the right firmware only to see a small audience of developer's and even user's in mix already on the platform, especially with other viable options out there for homebrew on devices they may own already. The scene is about "hobby development" and if the platform does not cater to "hobbyist" as a current exploit (window) does for an exploited system. You can't really expect glory days of a scene until that happens "easily to obtain/accessible/cheap exploit". Some of the great things comes from developer's who may just spend a few months/season on the console and the current landscape are completely shutting out that group of contributions.
Since we have started to see PS4 firmwares being exploited, I personally have cautioned the scene from getting too excited and expecting mass homebrew around the corner because the exploits were all released past their prime as outdated firmware's and do not age well with time. Thus not making it an easily accessible and also in most cases an affordable solution for many to get in on the platform, the pace of the scene it was very predictable. Since we have seen the 1.76 PS4 exploits there has been many suggesting to buy a 2nd PS4 (and with that advice "conveniently" pointing you to "affiliates links" to purchase.) This has always been bad advice for most user's. As the PS4 Hacking Scene is not worth it until there is an exploit on current firmware that appears. So when an exploit does appear you have a choice, Update to the new firmware that patches the exploit or stay on the exploited firmware . When people have that choice without seeking a certain model/bundles/sku then you will see development grow around the console .
There are plenty of developer's who have a PS4 currently and would not mind at all and even enjoy contributing to the PS4 Scene by developing and aiding in various projects , but also there is many of those same dev's who may not be very interested if they have to track down a model (or 2nd ps4) with the right firmware only to see a small audience of developer's and even user's in mix already on the platform, especially with other viable options out there for homebrew on devices they may own already. The scene is about "hobby development" and if the platform does not cater to "hobbyist" as a current exploit (window) does for an exploited system. You can't really expect glory days of a scene until that happens "easily to obtain/accessible/cheap exploit". Some of the great things comes from developer's who may just spend a few months/season on the console and the current landscape are completely shutting out that group of contributions.
Since we have started to see PS4 firmwares being exploited, I personally have cautioned the scene from getting too excited and expecting mass homebrew around the corner because the exploits were all released past their prime as outdated firmware's and do not age well with time. Thus not making it an easily accessible and also in most cases an affordable solution for many to get in on the platform, the pace of the scene it was very predictable. Since we have seen the 1.76 PS4 exploits there has been many suggesting to buy a 2nd PS4 (and with that advice "conveniently" pointing you to "affiliates links" to purchase.) This has always been bad advice for most user's. As the PS4 Hacking Scene is not worth it until there is an exploit on current firmware that appears. So when an exploit does appear you have a choice, Update to the new firmware that patches the exploit or stay on the exploited firmware . When people have that choice without seeking a certain model/bundles/sku then you will see development grow around the console .
Personally in my opinion, i think its a mistake for most to keep your lone PS4 console on a firmware awaiting for an exploit (like 5.55). Look at it like this, IF A SCENE IS GOING TO BE WORTH EXPLOITING, IT's GOING TO NEED AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE EXPLOIT (i think that needed shouting 
. (i.e. a current firmware solution or a cheap and accessible downgrade option). So with either one of those it would make staying on an older firmware redundant, enjoy your PS4 OFW features until then and choose that fork in the road when it comes through. Hoping & Waiting for a release that more then likely will not come and even if it would really does not change much in the PS4 landscape (and will be outdated on arrival) does not provide any solutions. Many of the people begging sadly don't even know what to even beg for, lol.. If your begging (and being very annoying BTW), at least beg for the lastest FW to be exploited..
The PS4 Scene will be a good homebrew platform (eventually) but we can not really consider it fully hacked in the traditional sense as the current firmware hurdle has never breached and its not the classic cat and mouse scenario we see with other devices. A scene needs alot of ingredients but the PS4 scene is missing a very important element that is holding back its progression of adding functionality to the PS4 .. One good thing that has been happening over the years a great foundation will be there for when that time does eventually comes due to the current and past developments from various developer/hacker contributions. The devs/hackers/contributors who have done many great things on the PS4, this is no way to dismiss your effort and contributions but to shed light on the needs (at least in my view) that the community needs..
Past articles on this subject along with predictions of the current landscape from back in 2017:
Regarding Issues in 1.76
Regarding issues in 4.05
. (i.e. a current firmware solution or a cheap and accessible downgrade option). So with either one of those it would make staying on an older firmware redundant, enjoy your PS4 OFW features until then and choose that fork in the road when it comes through. Hoping & Waiting for a release that more then likely will not come and even if it would really does not change much in the PS4 landscape (and will be outdated on arrival) does not provide any solutions. Many of the people begging sadly don't even know what to even beg for, lol.. If your begging (and being very annoying BTW), at least beg for the lastest FW to be exploited..The PS4 Scene will be a good homebrew platform (eventually) but we can not really consider it fully hacked in the traditional sense as the current firmware hurdle has never breached and its not the classic cat and mouse scenario we see with other devices. A scene needs alot of ingredients but the PS4 scene is missing a very important element that is holding back its progression of adding functionality to the PS4 .. One good thing that has been happening over the years a great foundation will be there for when that time does eventually comes due to the current and past developments from various developer/hacker contributions. The devs/hackers/contributors who have done many great things on the PS4, this is no way to dismiss your effort and contributions but to shed light on the needs (at least in my view) that the community needs..
Past articles on this subject along with predictions of the current landscape from back in 2017:
Regarding Issues in 1.76
Regarding issues in 4.05
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