It might be "retro" in the sense that it isn't the primary way most businesses host their services, but I still don't think there is any better way to actually

It might be "retro" in the sense that it isn't the primary way most businesses host their services, but I still don't think there is any better way to actually learn the ins and outs of networking and server management early on than to have non-obfuscated control and responsibility for everything you're doing.