Yes you can use lemmy apps to access a self hosted instance, but you will need a real certificate for that to work.
A quick check of Lemmy.rip show it has a self signed certificate, thats not going to allow you to access it easily and my even stop federation from working.
You should be able to get a lets encrypt certificate very easily.
Or a git repo and ansible/semaphore, thats how I manage my docker services. I have a git repo with all my configs and compose files (not in github, but my own server), then in semaphore I have a playbook to update a compose or swarm stack.
Having been in company at sales time my self, I can tell you that management will say all sorts of things. But once the sale completes the new owners can do anything, that could be drop all the staff.
I my self also loved the pebble, till it all died. I did try repebble. But the android app was way past it then.
My hope is that the mobile apps get a much needed update, then all the working watches get a firmware update. If that happens, I might have to get my working watch out and setup.
What you have missed is the ability to run what ever you need, self hosting is more then just backups and sync.
Some self hosting to self reliant, nextcloud can do way more then just file sync. For example I use it for calendar and contact sync, photo and file backup from my phone, an office suit, RSS server.
I would say that for just file sync nextcloud is over kill, but I have invested a lot of time into getting my nextcloud install rock solid. Upgrades are painless and am about to move it to a new host.
So use it for file sync, including backups from things. Calendar & contact sync, RSS reader, kanboard, photo sync and more.
can recommend Nextcloud, we have used it as we cant move PID outside of the UK. Also there is a Nextcloud all in one setup that will get you a fully working Files/Office/whiteboard suite
I use pulsar edit, the successor to atom. Also on the terminal, have a look at glow.