I use Obsidian - just markdown files. I use a Gatsby tool to convert it to a static site and upload it to my Digital Garden - https://notes.binnyva.com/

> Obsidian is adding features that most editors don't support which is kind of a vendor lock in

I'm assuming you mean block level referencing? Or Frontmatter at the beginning of the Markdown? I haven't found this to be an issue - but worst case, you can choose not to use it.