Yep, openvpn with factory firmware. It even had a (limited) choice DDNS services for self hosting, on a cheap consumer router. I could never figure out if NAT hairpinning worked though.
Almost all routers have an "advanced" section where you get a lot if these nice options.
I have only bought a ubiquiti device in the last few years though, so I guess it is possible that routers have been enshittified like a lot of tech products with features locked behind a paywall.
I would be interested in seeing compiled statistics of how many fell without capitalist interventions.
The CIA themselves have stated how active they were in the 20th century with corrupting, breaking down, and ultimately overthrowing communist regimes and installing dictators.
But also socialism with worker owned co-ops and only infrastructure and regulations through a central government may somewhat be a good direction to go.
The crux seems to be that all forms of government are susceptible to authoriatarians because people themselves are very susceptible to authoritarian strong men and propaganda, inherently.