That was my point. They (forum users, I don’t think actual developers) insisted that it’s a middle solution. That I could use the application and whitelist only the browser and that some JS could bypass the VPN and get the real IP.
I got two years of Nord for that same reason, then two of Proton that’s about to end, so this was probably around 4 years ago.
You can still do CPU+MOBO (maybe ram), and few years later GPU. Upgraded GPU a few years ago, waiting for the refresh of 3D for mono,CPU and ram.
Drives I have the same, same as tower and fans. might put the PSU to rest.
Forgot about CPU cooler. That might need change.