Bitcoin payments will always have a custodial component until someone comes up with a completely unpredictable revolutionary new idea that changes the whole game.
Discussion
like bitcoin
Until one day the wallet application can run nodes easily on a cellphone and run automatically. 🤔
Until there's a way to back up lightning nodes with a 2nd server so we don't have to worry about latest channel states and cooperative channel partners closing for us.
Are you talking about (BOLT13) watchtowers?
Open a channel to reliable node. Who's worrying about channel states and why?
There isn't a good way to back up lightning network nodes.
When hardware fails the best you can hope for is your channel partners cooperatively close your channels with them.
I suppose watchtowers can make sure they're fair too, but you cannot initiate the close or reopen the channel because broadcasting old channel state gets your funds taken.
So by not allowing a 2nd server to run or some way to keep live backups lightning network has a hole in it's robustness.
I use LND and it has backup option, including Static Channel Backups for your LN channels. You don't need to run a second server, just copy static channel backup somewhere whenever you open/close channel.
https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/blob/master/docs/recovery.md
