Debian-based custom built thing. Nothing special.

I have no such advice. I use a Linux basedd NAS myself.

What are those categories/apps?

Seems you also use a bit of freeBSD in your setup besides Linux. Still FOSS though!

Everywhere possible. For SSH sessions, logins on the Internet. PGP and chat apps. All the time.

Nothing really. You pay with your time by going to Linux but the effort is getting lower both because of me getting better but mostly the experience won’t compare with 20 yeara ago.since the non FOSS alternatives are getting more telemtry/call home functions rhe choice is an easy one.

Used to use Windows 98 SE. First introduced to Mandrake Linux around 2000. Had no Internet, got the install media from a friend of my father. Barely got it working and couldn’t read English. Went back to Windows XP. Ubuntu came. Began to use it around 2008 for a few years. Back to windows briefly and then Raspberry Pi was launched. Switched to Linux permanently.

Almost went back in 2013 due to Lightroom, gaming and a few work related medical software.

Began to grasp FOSS maturely in 2014 and switched to alterbative software. When Steam launched Proton there was no turning back.

I was obsessed but it has come and gone. Now I’m a bit of a nuissance to friends sllwly switching them to alternative software. My partner gets the worst treatment. Now she uses hardware security keys, assymetric keys auth etc

You should care about Linux. The web depends upon it :)

Unfortunately that Samsung flavour of chrome is hopekessly outdated. Always a few releases behind and shouldn’t be used for security reasons.