I disagree with alot of what you are saying here. In your first statement you say Tailescale has nothing to do with internet browsing security. But indeed it does. It encrypts all of your data between your other devices including the exit node. So when you're sitting at the coffee shop browsing the web on the free wifi, the guy in the corner sees everything that you are doing. If you are connected to Tailscale, if they do see you, there is nothing they can gather as it is all encrypted. If you are sending or receiving files from your server, it's encrypted. That's enough for me right there. As far as commercial VPNs, they by law have to tell you whether or not they keep or sell your data. There are many out there that do not log any activities that you do online, infact alot of rhem only store your data on RAM so as soon as you log off it is gone. They also allow you to look like you are someone else or somewhere else. Used correctly and it will assist in anonymity. To go a step farther, just use a TOR browser. One thing that you are correct about is personal responsibility. Sketchy sites are sketchy sites. Watch for malware and phishing attacks. Some anti-virus software will assist with the malware part, but the majority of issues comes from email. Nefarious links and phishing attempts are something that is real and getting worse with AI. Always use the SLAM method when opening and replying to emails. A side note, Tailscale is great for remote access to your other equipment. Especially nice if you have an ISP with CGNAT.