LL will have to make the decision where to move testing infrastructure to, but from this conversation it doesn’t sound like testnet3/4 have a future or is run with expectations that are compatible with what we need in the long run. Having a network that allows for connectivity with people testing other implementations and services (LSPs, swap providers, payment processors) on the same network is important though. Paying a tiny amount for testing is fine though from my perspective. Test/signet coins are API tokens, aren’t they? 

 If you’re running a bunch of testing infra and mostly working with partners, I’d absolutely recommend your own signet! 

 And then convince competitors to join that same signet to test their infrastructure too? Why would they? Yet testing the compatibility of these infrastructures seem to be the primary benefit of a public testnet 

 Wait I understood from your above comment that you were looking for a testnet on which you can test your software with your partners. Where are you currently testing software with “competitors”?

In general it seems testnet fragmented a while ago. All the testing I’ve seen done for a year or so has all been on mutinynet (or more often mainnet lol) 🤷‍♂️. 

 Being able to perform swaps with other providers on existing infrastructure is a great benefit, no? I can’t run all swap services on my local network and also one day hope to be able to interact with RGB channels. Having to spin up a new node, acquire coins and open channels for each system i might interact with feels cumbersome and wasteful. I desire a “common” testnet Lightning Network 

 I agree that would be great! But sadly the last decade or so of Bitcoin testnet has demonstrated that people mostly aren’t willing to put on the effort required to do so (which is very substantial!).