I will unfollow a tag I'm already following, instead of getting to a list of posts.

I can see that some improvements to both the tag and user popups are in order. It's something I have been thinking on.

That said, to be truthful, the expectations of most web users may not be what we always want to meet. If you built a site around the best data on statistical user behavior, it would likely be a bland site.

I'm not specifically defending the current tag popup design. Personally, I think it's just ok, and needs improvement. However, if someone accidentally unfollows a tag, they will probably refollow it and not make the same mistake again. There is a balance between meeting expectations and bringing someone into an experience. Personally, I think many undervalue the experience of immersing oneself in an exercise that does not map elsewhere.

But to be clear, I do appreciate the feedback. Those popups could stand to be improved upon. Still, my motivations can occasionally run perpendicular to "what I should do". Sometimes one character of a design is indefensible, but as part of a whole, it is.