alby looks interesting and i'll have to try it sometime. however it looks like the mobile app... has to be connected to a lightning node somewhere (?) and i can't have a friend/fellow drinker depend on me. also it looks complicated - a user's first app should be one and done on their phone imo.

independent, non-custodial, low-fee access to lightning or self-custody was the focus... liquid is the 'poor-man's on-chain' and place to start (?) and its interoperable with lightning which is cool.