That's not true at all? I don't think they use multicall binaries and both systemd-boot and udev (I don't remember any other util that became part of systemd) are still separate. And every other utility under systemd umbrella is separate as well.
As for philosophy, no unix ever even tried in any way to embody this.
There is also a problem of printers calling home regularly with unknown payload. Add to it that these devices have a camera it's not a good look. Anecdotally mine stopped working in "lan-mode" after two or three weeks before it was allowed to connect and phone home again.
Alcohol is something that for a very long time was associated with civilisation itself, it was and is very important. It's just embedded into most societies of course people don't consider it drug.
Spinning down and up actually kills drives more than constant non-stop work, I have a setup close to yours, it just seeds torrents (linux isos ofc.) 24/7.
Your decision, we have import tax as well starting from 150 euros or something, I've just always written 100 or less. With used hw you often don't get warranty beyound week or 10 days anyway.
Building on a nonserver hw is a good idea. You could look things up at aliexpress, they almost always have free shipping. Alternatively you can buy stuff in US/EU for cheap and use some service for parcel delivery from there (meest/shipito etc.), often they deliver super cheap (like us$10-20 for something that would be two timesmore expensive locally)
I don't disagree that term itself exists of course. But it was and is bullshit that those philosophers themselves never actually followed.