Sure, I agree. The problem is (and I’m sorry Matrix fans) but decentralised services don’t cut it for messaging at the moment. I’m on multiple Matrix instances which I use for different groups. One more tech savvy than the other, but still. Message can not be decrypted, or toggling one wrong switch and all messages become unreadable without you knowing. I would absolutely not have been able to switch 90% of my contacts to Signal if that were the experience.

Centralisation does not inherently have to be bad and Signal has been operating with good faith for many years now. I don’t see them selling out anytime soon and I think they are our best shot at a good FOSS instant messaging contender for the broad masses.

Yeah, that’s a possibility. However, as some Mastodon folks said recently, no platform is forever. Signal’s prospects seem reasonable to me, right now. If they co corporate and enshittify next week, I won’t feel my time and investment with them was a waste, nor my financial support (which hasn’t been much, tbh).