For sure, if the need calls for it, that works well.

But looking for random things to install and maintain without an actual need creates so many issues.

100%. When it comes to self-hosting, or anything really, be a minimalist. For your sake, and for the sake of whoever might need to maintain things when you’ve leave this earth.

I lucked out last year and ended up scoring something like 1000 DVDs for cheeeeaap. Like $100 or something. I ripped them all (minus any duplicates I already owned) and put them on my NAS. No more worrying about ads, data mining, or even internet/service outages ruining my evening.

I did the same for all my CDs, and while we still do purchase CDs, they are way overpriced.

But purchasing digital music and movies has become harder since Google Play Music went away. It’s almost too much effort to try to buy digital content these days, and it makes no sense. I want to pay for content, but making it impossible just doesn’t work for anyone.

Amazon played their first ad for us on Prime Movies today… during a kid show no less. Just disgusting where things have ended up.

I am starting to reconsider how I obtain my stuff.

This is a good thing. I don’t know why modern business models for these companies seem to be intentionally anti-consumer, but people will find other ways to get what they are looking for. And if that means spending money with a more ethical company, or simply pirating, they’ll find the path of least resistance.

I used to spend hundreds on the Google Play Store, buying apps and music all the time. Then they started playing stupid games, and I haven’t spent a dollar on the Play Store in years. My money goes to someone else.

A “purchase” or “buy” option, especially when you get an invoice, should ALWAYS mean ownership of the product.

A “borrow” or “rent” option is one that you expect to have to return the product.

Google can’t have it both ways. They either sold people software or they rented it out. Since it was never advertised or marketed as the Google Play Rental Library, they should be forced to give people the products they paid for.