Fast forward 16 years and almost all Bitcoin transactions are run through third parties. To buy Bitcoin most people use exchanges which you must KYC on. To store Bitcoin most people use wallets that require the use of 3rd party nodes for transactions.
Bitcoin transactions may be running through third parties exchange or wallets but most of those centralized exchange have also made it easy for fast accumulation of Bitcoin in some part of the world like in my country. It have helped some people to even buy Bitcoin more faster. I don't know how to express everything I wanted to say but in a short word my country people are using centralized exchange to buy their Bitcoin and they are more familiar with its use. Most of those exchange have aid a wide adoption of Bitcoin.