Another contrarian view — particuarly suitable for large VDN content like media, not small CDN content like html/js — is that one doesn’t need to be in over a hundred data centers, one needs to be in the key exchanges: you don’t have to be at the ends of every spoke if you pick the right hubs.

Agree swapping bad drives is a reasonable use of smart hands when done in batches, as no diagnosis is needed. I’d advocate considering extending that practice to the servers themselves. Math works if you find local tech repo/refurb shops that take gear (w/o drives) to bulk refurb & resell. The other way is to get your OEM to provide aliveness-as-a-service.

Anything so you don’t have to do manual labor, ideally ever.