Well, it is not hard to guess that there is no reasonable web browser now. There are various issues with them - technical, privacy-/security-related, being bloated or too crude/obscure. Let just say few words about every "family" of browsers.

*Trident-based browsers*
Look, who really uses Internet Explorer? Except of few people who like to return to 90's and 00's. It is not even easily accessible from Windows 10/11. Other Trident-based browser are no longer developed.

*Gecko-based browsers*
Let's start with main player - Firefox. Browser itself does not suck as much, but it is being driven by Mozilla Foundation which does its best to fuck it up (adding Pocket, AI-based fuckery, throwing out people who actually maintains browser etc). Though Firefox can be unfucked up to be more web-proof.

Then we have things like LibreWolf, Waterfox, Mullvad Browser, Tor Browser and minor ones. First two are for people who do not want to spend time on installing uBlock and applying arkenfox user.js. Mullvad makes sense only when you run Mullvad VPN. Tor Browser is not clear in terms of security and anonimity + you are not able to reach out web within LAN (this is an issue only when you run any self-hosted services or your router/switch has to be managed through WWW). At the end if you want to make your life easier, Firefox is only choice.

*Goanna-based*
Pale Moon & Basilisk - you want to run it only with retro PC based on Windows. also Pale Moon is run by strange guys.

*Webkit+Trident hybrid*
The only case I see is GNOME Web. I never used it but it smells like no reasonable settings and addons.

*KHTML-based*
Konqueror - well, see above GNOME Web.

*WebKit-based*
Otter Browser - not so customizable and needs more polishing.
qutebrowser/surf/neosurf - only for keyboard maniacs.
WebPositive - your reasonable choice if you run Haiku.
Safari - if you like being snooped by Tim Cook, sure.

*Blink-based*
Chromium - it is like being between an anvil and a hammer. Controlled by fokin Google.
Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge - you should not even think about trying to use them, they should be nuked.
Opera - it was nice until version 12, now they added AI, VPN and fancy colors.
Vivaldi - partially closed-source and is no better than Chromium or Opera.
Brave - there are various issues with it (Web3 shit, Tor-mode, hijacking links)
Ungoogled Chromium - this is your only choice if you have to run Chromium based browser. Though it still depends on Gooogle.
Falkon - no addons.

*Others*
Dillo - no addons, but for sure better option than Falkon.
Links - no JavaScript, no addons, so take it only if you spend your time in pure HTTP lands.
w3m - if your computer has no more than 64 MB of RAM, this your only choice.

There are much more options, but I have ran through only most known and available.

What is really wrong with browsers?
(1) Heavy as fuck - why should I install an application which devours hundereds or thousands of RAM MBs? I need to read a text or play a video. Those SOABs include shitty things like JS and do not care for users. 20 years ago no one realized that web browser would run entire OS within itself.
(2) They phone home - only to share data with Google or other data miners.
(3) They try to do things which they are not meant for - why browser has included chatbot?
(4) Tabs - you would never think about it. Tabs allow to open tens or hunderds or sites in one page, but this is a hook to our minds. It is like score meter which satifies us so quickly. Try to to not use "New tab" option, you will see how fast you will get angry due to having too much sites open.

What is wrong with WWW?
(1) Bloat - what is wrong with those people? They need you to download megabytes to see 3 pictures and half page of text. The longest books use less space.
(2) "Web applications" - so many things are available as "applications" through WWW. Why anyone would think that this is good idea? This is not only a problem of developers but also users who just want to click on link and have everything in one place.
(3) Ad-networks and ad-companies - there is no excuse to snoop on us just for a sake of better ads matching. They should nuke every company which profit is based upon ads.
(4) Blocking some browsers - there are different ways for that, but main underdog is Firefox.

What is wrong with us? We use fscked up browsers, we open fscked up websites giving a silent approval on running this shit.

So, what is my answer?

From technical POV I run 2 (actually 4) web browsers - Firefox and Links+. Links is main, I just checked option "Fake Firefox" in HTTP options and turned off cookies. Of course many sites are broken, but it is not a browser issue.

Then Firefox - if I need to see nice website, then I need it, though there is many work to do. Look on this checklist:
(1) uBlock - run in Hardcore mode with unlocking JS/fonts/3rd party things only if really needed
(2) No Tabs - this addon make sure that new site will open in new window, not new tab. I already mentioned that, but just try it as experiment and exercise for restoring your focus.
(3) arkenfox user.js - this makes sure that more sites will break and block you, because you actually block fingerprinting. Apply it and they note down which sites block you. Then you will know who should be bombed and the ruins should be salted down.
(4) Uncheck all sponsored things, change search engine to at least DDG (or self-hosted one), in "Privacy and Security" block everything including cookies in all windows.
(5) Make sure that you do not store and history and use bookmarks (bookmarks are good, they do not bite).

Other tips:
(1) Do not read too much on privacy and security, do not overthink and do not delegate your wrong behaviors to technology which cannot do anything with that.
(2) Do not dwell on shitty websites, embrace SmolNet and non-centralized alternatives. WWW was never meant to be centralized.
(3) Use ad-blocking techniques (Pi-Hole, uBlock, whatever), not only to block ads, but also block corpo websites, phishing, malware.
(4) Do not use AI especially for finding knowledge or as an ersatz of search engine. You are more intelligent than it, but you need to be less lazy.
(5) Do not use too much applications, addons. This is not about FiNGeRPrInTiNg, but about not being dependent on many things.
(6) Ask yourself "why do I need that?". If you do not need that, throw it out.

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