Quote from: chsados on Today at 04:36:23 AM

FTX absolutely ruined me and I have a slice of what "used to be" left on my Ledger.

Fuck Ledger, I want to rely on my own hardware... My own hardware I built with my own hands.

Ledger have some flaw and some poor privacy practice. But if you already have one, i don't see any reason to stop using your Ledger.

Quote from: chsados on Today at 04:36:23 AM

I have plans to get back to hosting a node with my dusty pie but my question is what is the current well respected self custody wallet these days? Electrum? Samourai? I guess the real answer is just stick with the actual core wallet.

Electrum and Bitcoin Core are still most popular option for desktop user. Samourai is niche option even among Bitcoin enthusiast, although Sparrow Wallet getting more popular in past few days.

Quote from: chsados on Today at 04:36:23 AM

PS...where is the goddamn IRC info. I have been so out of touch on this shit.

Most people don't use IRC these days and few years ago many people (who still use IRC) move from freenode to libera server.

Quote from: odolvlobo on Today at 04:54:33 AM

Quote from: chsados on Today at 04:36:23 AM

TLDR; I want to fully be self custody and at the same time contribute to layer 2 of BTC. If you have a link on helping me achieve this with my own hardware please respond.

Get a Raspberry Pi and set up Raspibolt or Raspiblitz.

But if OP prefer to use his laptop, myNode or Umbrel might be better choice.