Yup - typically referred to as layer 0. The ETH devs cant willy-nilly change the protocol and expect social consensus to agree. As a solo staker i also have the choice of which node and client to run (like you said).
Yes - completely agree. it is refreshing to go to a website, hit connect, and boom there is all my data! I think we are only brushing the surface of what is possible with web3. Cant wait for login support to sign up for social media sites.
I do hope existing websites eventually support web3 login, but eventually there will be a web3-native/decentralized social network that actually succeeds. there have been a few attempts over the years but nothing has gained much traction.
The penalties for being offline are equal to the rewards you would have earned. It is okay to be offline if you have minor outage for few hours or if you're moving and will be offline for a few days. You simply would need to go back online for the same amount of time to make your rewards back.
I am a solo staker. My machine churns through about 800 gb/month. I am a huge advocate for solo staking if you have the hardware and have technical ability. I work in finance not software engineering, and i was able to set a machine up with no issue.
Check out the link below if you would like more resources or if you have any questions!
