My lightning node is self hosted, it works fine. But im NOT going to tell you to go run it, that it’s ezpz. Its not. I raw dog a lot of shit. No umbrels here. I took the time to learn and figure stuff out. 

Just because most people aren’t qualified to run a LN node and it probably won’t ever be fool proof, doesn’t mean the technology is a dead end.

Generally I have zero tolerance for the bar tab analogy and I know anyone who uses it doesn’t know what they are talking about. I say that in the nicest way possible. 

 the bar tab analogy just relates to the temporary nature and the mutual incentives to keep the record straight, otherwise, a whole different thing

both sides use the same tech, it is based on building game move maps that incentivise honesty, and punish dishonesty

of course, dodgy barman could demand an inflated price for the return of your credit card but that's one of the elements of the protocol the model doesn't address