I don&#x27;t _need_ to host Owncloud (or any other service) any more than I _need_ Dropbox. It&#x27;s convenient to have access to files while away, but I could make do with a USB fob if push comes to shove.<p>The reason I selfhost is this. We are on a rapid path towards home computing devices being nothing more than dumb terminals where some server in the distance hosts your OS, files and apps. All, of course, proprietary so as to make switching painful. I DO NOT WANT THIS. So, I use and root for the technologies that I want to see win. I want complete and unfettered access to my files.