Another perspective. You got lucky that the dependencies you're working with haven't gotten as bad as the ones for Gmail and the like. Sure you've got a domain, but you've also got a domain registrar you're dependent on. Yeah, you've got your own email server, but it's dependent on open source software, and the monopolists allowing it to still connection, though that's getting iffy. You're also dependent on the kindness of a number of people continuing to contribute to Linux, and it not being compromised in some way.

I made a different choice 25 years ago, and went with Gmail, but the idea that you're smarter because your dependencies didn't turn to sh*t is as much luck as skill. 25 years is several eternities in tech, and there are no guaranteed outcomes.

[–] Aceticon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

Literally the worst that can happen to me if I'm really really unlucky is end up tied down to a single provider, same as you.

There were already 100s of registars back then (and as of 2024 there were over 2000) along with a standardized process for moving a domain to another registar, all regulated by an international regulator, ICANN.

Given that ease of migration is guaranteed by ICANN, making the market highly competitive, the only real risk that this entire system end up "consolidated" is if ICANN is totally subverted, a pretty tall order considering it's in the interest of every single country in the World and millions of businesses (who also have domain names) that it is not, so that's highly unlikely.

Meanwhile Google is just one and has always been just one. From the very start there was NEVER any perspective of there being more than one provider of gmail addresses so there was NEVER any perspective of being able to move away from Google and still keep your e-mail address if Google screwed you in some way. As for all your e-mails, those were always freely accessible to Google and they could always do whatever they want with that data.

In simple terms, you chose to be Google's bitch and hope that they don't screw you over too badly, whilst I, maybe, if I'm really really unlucky and an entire international system for domain name regulation is subverted against the interests of all countries in the World and most businesses, might one day at worst end up in the same situation as you.

I'm afraid your face-saving risk "analysis" on this is hilariously bad.

[–] RogueJello@lemmy.world 1 points 26 minutes ago

Literally the worst that can happen to me if I’m really really unlucky is end up tied down to a single provider, same as you.

No, there are a lot more risks you're running that I am not. Since you control your infrastructure, you're also responsible for it. Current penalty under CAN-SPAM act is up to $53,088 per email. So, no the worst thing that can happen to you if you're really unlucky is to die penniless after being sued into oblivious for operating a spam operation.

Before the worst happens, it's getting increasingly more likely that your domain will end up in a blacklist at Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook, for which there is no formal appeal process. All that would require would somebody hacking your domain, and sending spam, or just sharing an ip address with a spammer.

That's before we get into the things that you're already lost: time and effort maintaining the system, which I have not.

Anyway, I was just being polite, but since you're incapable of doing so, and need to resort to ad homenium attacks, I think we're done here.

[–] teuto@lemmy.teuto.icu 5 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago) (2 children)

If you have your own domain, you aren't stuck with your dependencies. Swapping registrars is a straight forward porting procedure. Swapping hosting is a matter of replacing 5 or so DNS entries. It took me about 20 minutes to reconfigure my domain's email when I decided I didn't want to use Proton anymore.

[–] drath@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

It's not a given. Some registars can be total dicks about transfers and drag it until expiry, after which they would kindly offer their services of "negotiating a buyout from the owner" (i.e. themselves), asking $100 upfront just for them say some absurdly high price and then hold it on park for a whole year just out of spite if you ever initiated the process.

[–] RogueJello@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

And you knew 25 years ago that the market wouldn't consolidate down to 1-2 registrars?

[–] teuto@lemmy.teuto.icu 2 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

I suppose you can't know that, but your odds on betting on a whole industry are better than a single company. Not to mention, the barrier to entry for a registrar becoming accredited really isn't that high, so I wouldn't expect market consolidation unless ICANN changes the process, at which point shit is fucked regardless.

[–] RogueJello@lemmy.world 1 points 21 minutes ago* (last edited 20 minutes ago)

True, I'd be more concerned about legislation to be honest. The CAN-SPAM act is just the mildest example.

Also with the computer industry it's getting pretty rare for any market niche to have more than 1-2 dominant players in it. Generally it's winner take all. Just see what happened with all the indie ISPs.

[–] quips@slrpnk.net 3 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

I think there’s a wider point here, open source is the good long term bet

[–] RogueJello@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago

Has been so far, but I don't feel that was obvious 25 years ago.