The biggest disservice I've committed unto my friends (those I successfully swayed over onto 'free software') is not preaching the good word of 'self-hosting' - earlier.
'Self-hosting' and 'free-software' go hand in hand
I'm sure Linux users can in a moments notice list all the evil things Microsoft and Apple have done unto mankind but are content with services provided by Google, GitHub etc.
Now bauherren.ovh has it's own email server, matrix, searx instances
We even have our own mercurial and git server.
It's never been easier
There are a dime-a-dozen quality guides and even dedicated guides like landchad.net (PRANSHU: Only Mr Smith thing I will ever use) that have everything you need to start self-hosting.
I'll admit it for some nicher things, like setting up an IRC chat bot, goodluck finding an up-to-date guide
Why self host instead of using discord, gmail, github, etc...
Simple — Your interests are not aligned with that of these for-profit companies. Every now and then, this simple fact manifests in different ways and goes in your vison, yet, because of the convinence offered by these platforms, people ignore it. _Every_ single of these 'free services' have commited unethical acts we choose to ignore, the list goes on and on and on.
The company might be good at hiding their mis-aligned interests, as is the case with discord, but the simple fact of knowing their intentions is living rent-free in the back of your head, maybe even subconsciously affecting your decisons of usage with these platforms.
Now, there are companies that are focused on making a change, for example Drew DeVault's sourcehut, and if you are willing to pay for them you shoud. But if you are like me, and have more time and less money, just self host already.