You’re not wrong. I think that’s why “second party custody” as the Fedi people like to call it, or “private” custody is so interesting.

The idea that a small private community can start their own custodial service for their members and have it be interoperable with the global system at large - without getting prior permission - is very exciting.

Maybe it’s not realistic for everyone to “be their own bank” but if you and your family and friends can be each other’s bank, that’s in a lot of ways just as if not more interesting.