UnsyllabledQuickies

I use ProtonVPN for everything, and I've started noticing more and more sites simply blocking me if I try to connect to them through ProtonVPN. As much as it sucks, I've more or less become acclimated to having to deal with an increased number of captchas while using a VPN; but I'm pretty angry about being blocked outright. There are at least two broad blocking tactics. First, some sites will say that my network traffic looks suspicious and/or that they simply block traffic from certain IP addresses. But second, and far more maddeningly, some sites tell me that my username and password combo are incorrect when I'm using a VPN. But I know this to be a blatant lie because (1) I use a password manager that auto-fills login forms with credentials that match the domain name, and (2) such sites accept my credentials when I visit them without the VPN connection.

What the hell can we do about this shit? Do I have to run my own VPN to avoid sharing an IP address with other people and thus getting blocked? I really don't want to do that because I have neither the time nor expertise, and I like that connecting through a VPN provider makes my IP address much less significant. I'm aware that this is connected to the broader conversation about WEI and other methods for determining whether requests are legitimate or not, and I'm sure that businesses of all sizes are reeling from massive increases in bot and AI activity. But solutions that end up punishing legitimate users are not good or valid solutions.

Does anyone have good resources for getting started on these kind of customizations? I've done basic stuff in the past like applying themes to whatever DE came with whatever distro I installed. But I'd like to get started learning to use tiling window managers, custom floating bars, etc.

I'd really like to get a first mechanical keyboard, but they seem too expensive to just experiment with until I find what works for me. What's a good, cheap, middle-of-the-road starter keyboard for a noob?

I’m a little intrigued, but it also seems way overhyped. The website is much too corporate-feeling and buzz-word-y for my taste. However, I’ll also admit I’m interested in any tool that touts end-to-end encryption and peer-to-peer tech. What do you all think about it?

I'm a little intrigued, but it also seems way overhyped. The website is much too corporate-feeling and buzz-word-y for my taste. However, I'll also admit I'm interested in any tool that touts end-to-end encryption and peer-to-peer tech. What do you all think about it?