You're correct, but consider these kind of solutions to be more of a hobbyist-inclined. Be prepared to continue investing into maintenance occasionally (and somewhat erratically, because Immich does bring in breaking changes).

Another thing to keep in mind is that - the server you get for $250 would also allow you to deploy many other apps (I have a similar spec, and deploy ~20 apps). So, net-net if the setup brings you happiness and ROI (in any form at all), it is worth investing!