In XMPP, e2e encryption (just like everything else) is an optional extension. So in practice half the clients don't support e2ee, half support different version of e2ee (can't talk to each other) and pretty much all e2ee are likely full of holes since there are too many implementations to review.

In Matrix, e2ee is in a library that all clients can use, so while it is not Signal, it provides decent security.

FWIW it’s being worked on https://commet.chat/

why do you want terrible ui

Yep, need a fork of revolt that uses Matrix 2.0 as a backend and I can get my friends to switch

Definitely

That's up to clients to implement, not part of the protocol.

But yeah its kinda dumb its not a thing in element

That would be huge and would make me and my friends switch from mumble/discord to matrix. However, i fear that high latency may be an issue.

It's software.

You could install it on a server and run a private room for your family(my usecase).

Nazis also meet in dark alleyways. Should we ban dark alleyways? No, we should probably illuminate them and decorate them a little.

We need to ban spoons because they are nazi pedophiles' preferred tool for eating soup.

Might need to find more active communities?

The spam thing is annoying, but is a result of anyone being able to join a room and just upload images.

Really wish the large rooms would just disable image uploads, or use a bot to police new users a bit.

Yeah, "Matrix as IRC" with general interest rooms is an unmonitored cesspool. "Matrix as IM" for staying in touch with mates is doing just fine.

Wow you weren't kidding lol. I watched the 2.0 demo and at this timestamp there's a CSAM-related room title that Matthew was invited to (at the top of the right window). Granted it's probably someone stream-sniping, but it goes to show that there's apparently active bad actors trying to interfere.

It's the issues with XMPP's spec: you don't just use XMPP, you use XMPP + your favorite optional spec implementations.

If your friends aren't on the same server/client combo then you won't be able to communicate with them (effectively).

I loved XMPP, still do, but haven't used it in years. If it were to get a single, matrix-style "spec release" (think an aggregation of existing features into one collection) that contains/requires a bunch of modern chat features I've come to expect from programs, then I could see it potentially having a resurgence.

XMPP Works fine when it's setup or when you don't manage the hosting, but God is it painful to self host an xmpp server. Then you have the clients that are all basically 10 years old at this point, except maybe Dino for linux. It even needs a special setup to work on restricted networks via port 80/443 because it wants port 5222 and 5223, and let me tell you, I've spent over a week trying to setup that reverse proxy, it was hell. I've never Hosted matrix so maybe it's worse, but this isn't the end of my gripes with xmpp. Most basic communication features in 2024 such as replies reactions quoting threads etc.etc. are unsupported ootb, and you need both a client that supports the extensions (often very slow to adapt "new" standards AND a server that has enabled the plugin for that feature.

Xmpp is plain old, and like many like to think, no xmpp was not "triple-E'd", people simply stopped using it because it's really inconvenient and the UX is horrible.

way less complex

I don't agree with this.