Not sure if it’s exactly what you’re after, but Unifi gateways can install NextDNS with a script provided by NextDNS. It’s all the same lists as Pi-Hole, and possibly more intelligent ones, too. Bonus points are it makes every device in your home use encrypted DNS, as well!

I’m using it on a Dream Machine Pro, and the new Cloud Gateway Ultra.

Unraid!

Traefik + CrowdSec + Authelia ftw

Sounds familiar. Unraid? 🤠

Unraid does an excellent job at this. I helped a friend setup a rack mounted server, it runs home assistant, some other containers, and a VM for him to work in, or play games. AMD GPU being passed through.

Equalizer APO with PEACE for GUI.

I’ve been rocking recyclarr now for almost a year. Was a pain in the ass to figure out the config, but very nice automate another piece off the Arr machine.

Unraid is the GOAT when it comes to being headless for docker. They know how to walk the fine line of “this is too much. It’s bloat,” and “this is minimal and bare bones.” I seriously can’t hype them enough, and can’t do justice to describing their ease of use.

Adguard home is like pihole, but has built in encrypted DNS options. For easy mode NextDNS.

They pretty much all have the same block lists to choose from.

Chenbro makes quite a few ATX shallow rack mount cases. I have one and have no complaints.

I know you said you’re against rack mounting, but JUST in case:

I love the look and tidiness of a nice rack mount system. So I got a Chenbro 4U case. It’s perfect for reusing my old components, and it has a standard size area on the front to install a hot swap HDD cage.