Solid advice. Thank you.
Start out right. Get a node up and running if you don't already have one. Not technically necessary, but if you aren't using your own node's mempool for constructing block templates, you are trusting someone else's. I recommend nostr:nprofile1qqs9df4h2deu3aae83fmet5xmrlm4w5l9gdnsy3q2n7dklem7ezmwfcpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduq5xamn8ghj7dnvv45xs7tywde8g6rpvakkjuekw46nvar4vdhxgan6wumkxatzwpckk6rk0puhjdm2da5k7ce5x4kkkumjx3jkzepwdahxjmmwqyt8wumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnwdaehgu3wd9hxvmckqw0xz.
You can get Datum installed very easily on Start9 to be constructing your own blocks and either solo mine/lottery mine, or connect to OCEAN for more regular payouts, so long as you can get a CLN Lightning node up and running.
From there, I'd start out with a few Bitaxes to dip your toes in. If you find it's not your thing, you will have still learned a ton about how Bitcoin works and you'll be running a full node, which is good for privacy if you are using it for your actual transacting on-chain.
Discussion
Bro. I spent a couple hours looking carefully at this advice. At every turn, it leads to the potential for a solid understanding of how this all works and a commitment to decentralization, self sovereignty and the basic principles of bitcoin from a super-based perspective.
I have a lot to learn.
I didn't expect a response to be so clearly layed out and principled... and it's the only response I got, so I see it as really something magical.
I will start where you've suggested. When I'm running a lightning node and have some bitaxes set up, I may reach back out for advice on next steps (if I haven't given up and if you dont mind). This will likely take me a couple months of hobbying to get right.
Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you again. I gave a follow. You're the man.