It's functionally quite different. And requires a higher level of effort to engage with the content.

elitist marketing bs based on invitations that didn't work and ultimately attracted wannabe narcists to boost their ego

Clearly that's not the only reason or gmail would have been a flop too. I actually think that marketing choice was the only reason they got as much initial traction as they did, without it I think most of HN would never have heard of Clubhouse, rather than that it would have been more successful.