No worries.
As for your questions:
In Germany we can optionally file taxes. If we were overtaxed, we can claim the overcharged amount back.
As for why not on my main PC: I don’t want that kind of software clogging up my main rig. Also helps keeping my digital mess a bit more organized ;)

Why is it always like this…

Not everything and everyone is in the US.

I also prefer Windows to Linux in the desktop environment. As for my server tasks, I mostly prefer Debian and if needed I’ll use Windows Server (obviously unlicensed/not activated).
I’ll use what fits for the task. :)

Edit: Also not a bad thing to separate a machine that holds sensitive data (even if they are encrypted) from another with a higher risk rating. Even if it’s Linux, Mac OS, Unix or whatever based.

My tax machine is a VM. On another server (proxmox)

You can still set up your own HTPC in your living room and configure it yourself.
And there are more solutions like from Apple (but they absolutely fucking track you as well) or other streaming box/stick solutions I am not aware of.
Unsure how good an Nvidia Shield is in regards to privacy. Your best bet for privacy is probably to just build your own solution on Linux.

My next TV will be either a business/signage monitor or a computer monitor.
At least something without any connection outside. No network, no anything.
At most something like a Chromecast or similar.

If you have Spotify, there are tools to rip directly from it (like actually from spotify. Unlike those find on spotify but actually download from youtube tools)

TL has more of a focus on visual media.

Personally I use nyaa for japan/asia focused music, web searches or soulseek for anything else (primarily flac and failback to mp3).
If I feel inclined, I’ll buy the album/tracks.

To get in you could in theory join communities like r/openSignups and other similar communities.
The tracker TL will probably open signups soon during Easter.

I will continue to prefer a seedbox (rented or shared/dedicated vps).
At least I can use private trackers.

Private trackers have usually most stuff.
Only with very rare or obscure content it depends on where you are.
Some trackers specialize in specific genres or regions (e.g. horror or latino/asian).

Already fiddling around enough with tge stuff I do with my PC which I installed Win11 on and I am in the EU meaning less BS than the US version (no forced upgrades, no ads (as described by US citizens) and so on).

I use Debian on my server as it’s a tool. Same for my pc. And I have a steamdeck.
And every tool has it’s worth no matter if it’s made from shitty chinesium or baller titanium.
I like the way Windows handles most things and I prefer it over having to fiddle with the way every Linux distro does it’s own thing (and I will never use Ubuntu).

Veeam community edition is fine for most things.
If you are cheeky, generate yourself an NFR license on their website.

Edit: Veeam plans a Linux version for VBR 13.
Veeam Agent can run stand-alone on both Linux (only specific distros are actually supported. Non-supported might work) and Windows

Using Veeam.
It’s whole purpose is doing backups from small deployments up to the datacenter level.
Might be worth taking a look.
And the documentation is very good.

My life went down in Containment doing 1v1 splitscreem pvp with my friend.
I will never let anyone say Halo 2 was worse than any other entry.
It’s either Reach, CE or 2 (in the chronological order).

My advice (if you can): Create a dedicated NAS VM and use samba the native way.
Or use a dedicated storage server with native samba.

I just wanted to comment “And this week in old as fuck news:”

You account number is linked to the SIM you use and that is linked to your adress.

I prefer Symfonium

If its a file from my seedbox: Direct share link (optional pw)
Local file: OneDrive

traefik, authelia, the *arrs etc.
I disabled auto updates for databases.