Welcome @EdM
Yes, there has being consideration of this with an approach called federation, but chat was just one possibility within it.
- The comments plugin is a hint at chat threads within tiddlywiki
- The technology behind Announcing the MultiWikiServer Plugin may enable this as well.
- Node wikis especially Bob can have multiple users so you could build a chat facility on top of it, but it remains a little difficult to publish safely on the internet, but not in a trused local area network.
While I would not disagree with including chat within the TiddlyWiki platform it is seriously important to look outside the tiddlywiki box. It is possible to integrate other chat services within tiddlywiki, just as you could with any other website.
- That is you visit a tiddlywiki and engage in a chat but this is hosted elsewhere, it is just interacted with as if it was your tiddlywiki.
- Tools can be developed to later import chats for a permanent record
- I am sure we can find a list of these and share if you are interested.
- Using this approach you can leverage the community, history and expertise embedded in an external solution.