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> Only as long as you don't [ do various things that no longer qualify as self hosting ].

Well yeah, that was exactly my point.

> Mixed metaphors aside

It wasn't a metaphor, I meant that quite literally. If you rent a car there is no section 230 protection and yet the company is not liable unless they knowingly aid you in committing a crime. Network service offerings aren't magically different. Selling something (in a sufficiently neutral manner) does not generally leave you with any liability for the customer's actions.

It's only when you start operating your own service that republishes user submitted content that section 230 suddenly becomes relevant (at least AFAIK). If you want an analogy I guess it would be like offering free use of your fleet of vehicles to strangers off the street with zero due diligence and then the law exempting you from liability for any subsequent actions of those strangers.

Anyway I'm not advocating to repeal it. Personally I think the issue is that social media operators editorialize via algorithm, abusing section 230 to dodge responsibility.