I run self-hosted email for more than 80 domains across three VPSs, almost all of which are one-offs or joke domains and then a handful of old and new personal and business domains.
No deliverability problems. The issues with self-hosting email are drastically overblown.
The new addition: Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components produced in a foreign country†† and all communications and video surveillance equipment and services listed in Section 1709(a)(1) of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (Pub. L. 118-159)
††:
For purposes of inclusion of UAS and UAS critical components, we incorporate the definitions included in the associated National Security Determination
If you disable watch history, youtube tries to "punish" you by disabling nearly the non-subscription recommendations and shorts not from your subscriptions and a number of other things.
I don't think it's at risk of being overstatement. CW bands are more crowded than ever before, because there are more CW ops than ever before.
This is, I think, because it's easier to learn than ever, ham radio equipment is more capable for a cheaper (adjusted) price, and ham radio has grown tremendously worldwide due to all barriers being lowered a bit.
CW is very popular, especially given all the other options that are easier.
That it's a smaller percentage of hams that know CW than before is another way of saying ham radio has expanded well beyond CW and the population has grown. But if you have a finite resource (bandwidth) and it's in significantly more demand than ever before, it's a hard argument to suggest that it's not 'very' active.
I'm not so sure the line is that clear cut.
How much hardware is useful today without software? Is VHDL software?
I started with software and have been expanding down the stack more and more, spinning some of my own (very basic) PCBs recently, and it's been a lot of fun. I think the other direction would have been harder, because the ~~core game loop~~ development cycle takes so much longer, and that would have made it hard for me personally to maintain motivation at the beginning.
Software by comparison has almost no barrier to entry and much faster iteration. It's also a lot harder to explain to my mom what I do.
I do think C was a great place to start. Going up and down from there is much easier than trying to go downstack from, e.g. javascript.
I can access my password manager on my trusted device, and manually type in my password for whatever service on any other device. This is exactly what I do for the rare but important time when I need to login on a device I don't want to have total access to everything.
I don't prep significantly - I already did all the reading and exploring before I applied. I already know I want to work there and that I'm comfortable with the tools they use. And I interview really well off the cuff.
My main problem is that I'm not getting interviews at all right now.
No deliverability problems. The issues with self-hosting email are drastically overblown.