Absolutely overkill to have a metal server at that cost to send emails. A cheap VPS (which always comes with its own IP) is fine in most cases. From experience

Absolutely overkill to have a metal server at that cost to send emails. A cheap VPS (which always comes with its own IP) is fine in most cases. From experience I can confirm the reputation build-up requirement though. And all that reputation can get ruined by a single blacklisting - even if you manage to get the server de-listed later the damage is done.