Hope you consider the fact the Bitcoin users need something unique rather than just another marketplace. Something that will move them to spend more than holding too much.
This should be a driving factor in any new project. Crypto marketplaces have been tried before, and I believe if there was a profitable business model, the large retailers like Amazon, Alibaba, eBay and Walmart would have implemented it already, driving new adoption and not just existing hodlers.
Think
unique, like Ucy mentioned. Build an international directory of bitcoin vacation spots - where someone's food, lodging and amenities can be prepaid in bitcoin. Your site can be the equivalent of a travel agent -- finding bitcoin vendors and building the vacation packages (with your profit).
I think the non-custodial and local exchange approach is unique enough... And it's better to focus on area of strength. He already mentioned why he choose to build such marketplace. Maybe he can create another site for what you described rather than abandoned this current project, which by the way will do really well since that is what the Bitcoin/crypto communities desperately need. Or he could create a space for that on the site.
Developers just need a way to make spending bitcoins for goods and services viable. His idea plus the other we already suggested will make that possible. I believe he can profit from it by charging some fees, asking for donations, allowing ads, etc.
Amazon, Ebay, Alibaba, etc business models will be very incompatible with the model we need. We don't need kyc, custodial, and heavily limited marketplace owned by corporation who will not hesitate to censor countries they dislike or that don't meet their national law requirements. By the way, this are part of the reasons many people choose crypto.
