Was this a shift in stance, though? I’ve never really paid close attention to him, but was he ever a self-custody advocate?

People don’t seem to get that Microstrategy is literally a Bitcoin bank and this is his entire business. It’s not surprising he wants people to trust him rather than themselves that’s his entire business model at this point lol.

Hes not one of us. He's not a philosophical bitcoiner. I'm sure he just liked the attention he got and did some pandering, like Trump. But I guess it's good that some people care to try and pander. Bitcoin will be fine anyway.