“An inexpensive and tiny VPS can easily handle hundreds of concurrent users.”
Iran blocked Signal outright. Signal answered with a TLS proxy anyone can run on a cheap server with a domain name. The traffic looks like ordinary encrypted web browsing, and the proxy operator can’t read a thing. Every proxy that gets posted publicly gets blocked, so the fight is whack-a-mole. Censors have to find every box. Volunteers only need one to stay up.