It doesn't help that I think datacenters are the means of digital oppression rather than the means of digital empowerment.

Oppression is where you get people hooked on something but then lock it away and use your complete control over supply to extract rent. Gradually the rent will become so high that only the most abusive profit-seekers can afford to pay it.

Empowerment is owning technology so that its purpose is to work for you, rather than to extract rent from you. Tech that empowers individuals usually doesn't need giant chain-link fences around it.