The server-side code in the public repo was not updated between April 20, 2020 and April 6, 2021. The Signal Servers were updated in the meantime. The code that was running on those servers was not Open-Source.
>You clearly haven't read enough about why they chose to implement a payment system and why they chose to create their own.
I've read more than I ever wanted to read about this subject and I still find the arguments for why my privacy friendly messaging service would benefit from being co-mingled with a(soon to be heavily regulated) financial platform entirely unconvincing. Moreover setting aside the goals: the way they went about it, in total secrecy, does not engender trust.
>Unless something has changed recently, telegram absolutely required my phone number. Signal is also working on replacing phone numbers with usernames.
Signal has "been working" on this issue for an awfully long time. A Plethora of Matrix Clients have had this Feature from day 1.
>One can't claim to be a secure encrypted chat app but then not enable it by default.
enabling it (by default) and forcing the user to use this as the only option are completely distinct.
>There is no central server that has all your info and chat history like telegram does.
You seem to consider this to be a feature. To me the absence of an (optional) central server is a bug.