I chose Matrix (continuwuity) because it's less involved for others to chat and set up settings, and that's key to bring more folk into a new ecosystem - as little friction as possible. It's far from perfect, as I have no call functionality*, but it's simpler to handle chat encryption, plus Element, Matrix and the maintainers of each server project are working hard to catch up to the mainstream.

Element are hoping to implement Element Call, as well as a QR scan that handles all of the security key validating for a new device, and MAS authentication) so people will be able to register accounts and set up 2FA.. And I concluded that, in the end, backwards decryption was more valuable and sacrificing previous messages was just too extreme a move. I have security, moderating traffic, and I'm self hosting. That's enough for my family.

*I swear I had calling available with Conduwuit, coturn and Element, but hey ho.