From the listed alternatives, only Matrix is the one that actually solves the issue of not having to trust our communications to any single monopolistic entity.

You could add XMPP there as well, but it really doesn't matter. What does matter is for us to start pushing for openness and start evangelizing/helping others to adopt anything that puts us back in control of our communication.

This is the one thing to fix, and the one opportunity that we are getting now to do this right.

- Element's client is not "nice": we can fix it. We can not fix closedness.

- Not everyone is using it: we can fix it. We can not fix privacy abuse from Facebook.

- It's work to run/manage a server: find a hosting provider (cough https://communick.com cough).

will https://communick.com run / configure the various bridges? setting up my own home server for matrix with bridges to existing services (inc WhatsApp) has been on my list for a while. Seems like a nice way to try and migrate slowly away from other services, and if it works well I can show my friends in a sort of like "look this is how ive done it"