I don't need to run a server to run a local email client.

I also don't have the requirement for anyone to be able to join a project-specific IRC channel I'm hosting. In fact, quite the opposite, I DON'T want just anyone to join it.

For secure communication, I still use S/MIME (I may be in one of the last clusters of people to do so.)

It's entirely possible this article was not intended for you. It sounds like you have different requirements than the OP.