Selfhosted

I thought free software was when you were the product and non-free software actually supported developers.

Or do you mean non-OSS?

3 - An OpenWRT router with Wireguard connecting to another router 1000 miles away will do the trick.

2. Open source has high immunity to devs making changes at the expense of user for their benefit because anti-feature can be removed. Recommendating another proprietary alternative here would be like recommending to leave an abusive partner but then recommend someone with the same red flags they had.

I'll add to #2 (IDK if it's open source, though):

Give Stremio a try. Once you set it up (basically just add the Torrentio plug-in then whatever content catalogs you want), the workflow is much better and simpler than Plex.

You just browse it like Netflix: see something you want to watch, select it with your remote, then stream it immediately. No server to run, you don't have to build libraries, you don't even have download the content beforehand. Just select and watch. Could not be easier.

If #3 is your use case, then yeah, pony up the fees. Or learn to code I guess.

pretty much the only reason I still use Plex is because I like to be able to watch stuff during downtime at work and plex.tv isn't blocked on the work network while my private domain is.

And no, using a hotspot off my phone on a personal computer isn't an option, both because the security requirements of my job site prevent us from using personal devices in the main area where I work and because the building itself is a massive concrete structure that blocks most cell signals.

In other words, it's a dark pattern that tricks users into letting Plex MITM their connection.

If they’re calling it remote streaming when you’re on the same (local) network, that’s not exactly intuitive. I’d say OP’s phrasing was fair.