I don't see how this is any more secure than using Wire (via a VPN if you really want to obscure your IP address further). What am I missing?
Besides the software it uses a very simple made data-diode[0] circuit especially to prevent key- and plaintext-extraction by limiting the data flow in only one direction. This is used to connect three distinct computers (sending/receiving/networked) from which only one is considered compromised (the networked one).
The rational behind that is as long as your (sending/encrypting and receiving/decrypting) endpoints aren't compromised during installation it's very hard to compromise them later.
That can't be said about Wire on an unsave endpoint like an android phone. On the other hand, Tinfoil Chat isn't the easy to use messenger which you want to recommend to any non tech-savvy person.
The other nice aspect is Onion routing by default similar to Briar, Ricochet, Onionshare and Cwtch. TFC has no server in the middle that could collect metadata, and Onion Services hide geolocation of the users as well.
I completely agree it's not easy-to-use in comparison to other messengers, but I've found it very difficult to increase convenience without losing endpoint security.
Thanks for clarification, it slipped my attention that plaintext extraction isn't possible even with a compromised receiving endpoint as long as the data-diode is in place.
And thanks for your work. I'm currently experimenting with TFC on various hardware and considering it as topic of my (long due) bachelor thesis in Software Engineering.