Readers suggested pitching self-hosted XMPP/Matrix servers to family and friends as a low-friction fallback for outages or sensitive conversations, adding perks like no file limits and shared in-jokes while giving users admin control and keeping moderation light. They noted success varies by group, with some holdouts preferring mainstream apps for convenience, and discussed Snikket as an easier-to-use XMPP option despite rough admin UX and a still-developing web client.