It’s easy to simplify, and ignore nuance, huh! so here’s a simplified answer- “yes”

For anyone looking for something like that right now - https://grapheneos.org/

It’s bit hard to wrap my head around it. I think I’ll give joplin a try, if that doesn’t work out then maybe I’ll give anytype another go.

This looks really nice. Thanks!

I used https://juicysms.com/ for sms verification. It’s a paid service (I used monero).
worked perfectly for me.
I needed it for aurora store.

This is exactly what I am doing.
I am very grateful to the foss community that this is possible.

I haven’t personally experienced it. But have observed a discussion between product manager and engineer who had to put it. Seemed like regular business to him, he didn’t seem bothered at all.
I would think only people personally bothered by it might have any issue with it, they are rare.

I am on proton plus, have to decide between proton unlimited (1/2 year plan) to get proton vpn, or continue with proton plus and get mullvad vpn.

My time is more valuable than money, but I still pirate. To me it’s not about money but principles.
If I pay for something and still can’t “own” it, I pirate.
If a generous portion of the money I pay isn’t going to the rightful individuals but to our corporate overlords, I pirate.
If my internet freedom is threatened, I pirate.

If someone pirates due to lack of money and one day they have enough, I suggest keep pirating and donate to FOSS and pay to individual creators.

I think a lot of people here actually mean foss when they say open source. Calling it foss might impart the right message and the importance of libre software to new folks. I am little conflicted about non-libre open source software as might be evident by now, maybe my bias is unjustified.