In fact, I have considered in the past to use a fully free software
compatible router. But getting this done is very difficult:
1) Limited availability of providers which also have very different pricing.
2) Some providers nowadays require you to use their router etc. This makes it
easier for them to update software and troubleshoot errors.
3) My current provider is really awesome when it comes to service and pricing
(Unitymedia). But their router receives automatic firmware updates and I
cannot interfere with that. This is a router where TV/phone/Internet are
transferred via one and the same cable. If I were to change my provider the
way I connect to the internet would probably require a whole different
technology.
The best workable solution would probably be to use a libre router to connect
to the proprietary router via LAN but encrypt all internet traffic beforehand
to ensure full integrity of my internet traffic. If this is the case, the
router would not require much extended functionalities.
