I'd recently made the decision to invest in the hardware requirements for setting up my own full bitcoin/lightning node when I set out to my local used computer/repair shop to make a purchase.

I'd considered the Raspberry Pi single chip computers when I saw the Raspiblitz guides, but after a reading a few comments/posts on SN, I figured a used Dell Optiplex might provide better longevity (thanks to some of the discussion in #78866). Better that way because the shop owner wasn't even aware of what the Start9 and Umbrel were and he didn't have any Raspberry Pis. Anyway, after picking his brain for a few minutes on what he knew about server-computer set-ups, I learned he had a Optiplex 7060, which, upon my request, he gladly installed 2tb of storage on. I got it at a fair price.

As I was about to leave, he began asking me what I did for a living and what I'd been wanting to build. Well, thought I, have I just received an open invite to share, with this here stranger, my passion project?

To be honest, I'd gone into his shop wondering if the man had an interest in bitcoin, seeing as he sells computer hardware, but I let that aside as I quickly became focused on achieving my goal. Besides, I've recently resolved (#768791) to be not so aggressive with pilling.

As it turned out, he had bitcoin miners set up in his store back in the day and sold everything around 2020.

He struck me not as being anti-bitcoin, but jaded. I might be sour too if I'd jumped ship like he did. After a bit of conversation, he admitted to being guilty of trying to orange pill people in the past, and even to seeing the p2p value in it. However, that wasn't enough to assuage the wound of wasted potential. The human mind possesseth craft when coping with loss, when justifying actions that, if forgone, could have diverted great losses. Naturally, he was sour about the topic, spouting FUD at every turn of phrase (see eye eh conspiracy, blaq roch, and so on). He also said he had gotten a bunch of some shitcoin ganked off him.

"But that wasn't bitcoin," said I, with gusto. I then did my best to dispel as much of this fud as possible and told him how bitcoin has really improved with a layer 2 called Lightning. I told him how I'd intended to build a node that routes payments on this L2 network and that I would even help him set up his business to accept bitcoin if he wanted. I could see his gears were turning.

Eventually, he shook my hand and said we have a deal. Smart man.

Some have fallen out of favor with the truth. They become allured by the siren song, but that doesn't mean they are a lost cause. FUDsters are out there, working day and night to make sure bitcoin doesn't surpass dollar supremacy.

So now I'll appeal to you, Stackers. I am following the Ministry of Nodes guides, which are very well put together. I looks like it will set me up on CLN and LND, and the BTC pay server if I want.

I looked at @DarthCoin's "uncle jim" scenario (#330346) and I can see he advocates for LNbits, which the Ministry of Nodes guide does not get into. He shows using RTL/Thunderhub, which at first glance seems like it does almost the same thing as LNbits (channel/ liquidity management etc.)

Tbh, I got more than I bargained for in this. It has turned from passion project to a proof-of-concept in the course of a conversation. Looking on BTCmap, there's only one other (small) business that accepts bitcoin in my locale (I happen to know him), and he doesn't run his own node, so maybe I can provide him liquidity eventually, once I become better-versed.

I'd love to turn this ex-coiner into a born-again maxi. It would be my first step in taking my obsession into the meat world.

For now, my main goal is to prove to myself that I can run and manage my own node, then, perhaps, I'll grow and move onto loftier things. Rome wasn't built in a day. Advice, warnings and other useful comments all welcome. Thanks in advance, Stackers :-)

And as Song likes to say, fiat delenda est!