< What's a good Gemini server these days?
I don't have any advice for you since I never created a Gemini server, sorry.
What I try to do is avoid Docker and setting up the VPS from scratch (Ubuntu LTS over here), and trying to learn the basics of Firewalls, patching, and such. I find that kind of fun, but boring when has to be bulletproof for public use.
Well, no pain, no gain, I always say!
(Note: I never actually say that :-D)