I get all that, but this is not an argument of exchange vs. no exchange, even when you decide to use an exchange, you do have other options. Why not use exchange (with all the same issues/risks as above) but doesn't have a history of trying to fuck BTC any chance they get? Kraken/Gemini have all the same issues but don't seem to actively go out of their way to screw with BTC
[re:coinbase]
i was/am planning on opening a gemini account but last i went to join they wanted my login to my bank. no thanks, coinbase does the two random transaction and you just confirm them. did that like 7 years ago and been there ever since.
yeah they are getting draconian. but its solely an on/off ramp for me. i dont send/receive coins to <wherever> from coinbase (ie i dont use it as a wallet). i xfer out when i buy, xfer in when i want to sell. doesnt mean they cant freeze it if they dont like where they came from. i have signed messages for some coins - mining payout addys mainly - if needed (never needed to show that though), and coinbase supplied the others.
and i do keep a bit there for trading. such as it is lately.
but youre absolutely right, coinbase is going downhill as far as snooping/chainanalysis/tracking and such. government must be loving it.
ΙΜΗΟ, people often tend to exaggerate different issues they may have had, or have heard happening with exchanges. I've read many negative comments about Kraken. I've been with them for several years now, and have had an excellent customer service on the very few issues that arose. It is currently my no.1 choice of exchange.