I also just use KDE connect on windows to exchange needed files or clipboard. Devices need to be on same LAN or VPN during exchange. Pausing PC media during calls is a nice bonus.

For syncing photo gallery and Obsidian I use Syncthing.

Just my emotional reaction: I am amateurishly selfhosting for more than ten years with only basic linux knowledge. This training is probably more focused on pros and general web development than self hosting. In my imaginary perfect world self hosting would be a common skillset taught in a secondary school.

same here

Technically Grav is not a static site generator, it is just a flat file cms. It means there is no need to generate all the files of website and upload them to server each time you write a post. I have no idea why people like static sites for blogging.