Lightning is not as private/anon as #monero (onion routing won't save your ass from a global passive adversary, and that's just the tip of the iceberg).

Also, payments regularly fail if you don't have a direct channel to the destination, when the payments are just a few thousand dollars.

Also, it requires every node along the way (indeed, the whole network) to have the funds sitting on an always-online hot wallet.

Also, most lightning users don't even use it non-custodially.

Of the few who do, almost everyone uses a LSP, because it's a pain in the ass to manage your own node and your own channels.

Finally, it is a regular pattern that even the very small minority of bitcoiners who actually use it for payments, overwhelmingly and puzzingly use onchain payments, not lightning; here is an example from today:

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The online crypto store ShopinBit just released its January 2025 update. Here are the payment numbers for that month:

Monero: 56.3%

Bitcoin: 42.9%

Lightning Network: 0.4%

Fiat: 0.4%

"Monero payments are soaring again, taking the lead at 56.3%! We’ve seen #XMR dominate before, but this start to the year is truly impressive."

Link to their post on X/Twitter: https://x.com/shopinbit/status/1889584085057896498

Link to the store: https://shopinbit.com/

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p.s: calling #monero trendy .. lol. if only. but no, a lot of the real o.g's know, use and respect it, most of the noobs don't, and the zealot maxis are allergic to it :)