They open source all their software (and make it easy to install and use). Their hypervisor operating system (SmartOS) rocks so hard. They also released Manta (S3 alternative object store).

If Joyent ever changed direction, or shut down, I have an unlocked path forward with a community to help me continue on my own hardware. I can build my own cloud if push comes to shove.

That said, when meltdown / spectre was announced AWS was already patched. The rest of us on hipster VPS providers had to cross our fingers. One of the main things I dislike about per-minute billing for servers is that it's too easy for bad actors to cycle through if there is some sort of side channel attack.

I remember when I first heard of the concept of VPSes. My initial reaction was "seems risky" but I was young and lots of older, smarter people assured me it was ok. Now I've grown used to them and all the luxury goodness they provide and I don't want to go back. It's like car ownership and finding out that all that cycling around town before you were old enough to get a license was what kept you looking fit.