I have yet to test Private Relay, but can users not run something like Proton VPN Free 24/7 and enable Private Relay which I assume will override Proton within Safari? (edit: you can’t!)
That way you at least get a speedy experience in your web browser and then you’re getting some protection throughout the rest of your apps?
But this is just a hypothetical workflow based on assumptions I have about how Private Relay works, which again I have yet to use myself.