I don't agree completely with the OP for few reasons.
While it's true that Exchanges like Binance, Kraken etc.. are becoming continuously sophisticated, it's very far to say that cold wallets like Ledger, Trezor etc. are going to be history.
It's completely false to say that you are relying on a centralized private company when using a such cold wallet like Ledger.com and completely wrong to make comparison to Netscape.
Therefore, let me give you some clear facts about Ledger (also valid for Trezor and other similar devices):
- 1. You can recover your accounts on any BIP39 compatible third-party wallet, not only on Ledger devices. So you will still be able to access your funds even if Ledger disappears.
- 2. The Ledger device is not a centralized device as it does not connect to Ledger servers but to the Blockchain. Even if Ledger closed you would still be able to send and receive your digital assets through Ledger application and other third party platforms.
- 3. You will only need to keep your 24 words recovery phrase and passphrase (if set)
- 4. So as you can see, these cold wallets (that could be used also as hot wallets!!) are very secure and nobody will freeze (depending on which digital assets you are using - that's an other topic) or steal your assets that easy
Exchanges are great places to trade your digital assets, but NOT to keep lot of funds (if yes, then for trade only and not for long storage). I wouldn't recommend doing it. I read so many bad reviews on Exchanges like Binance, Bitstamp, freezing money of customers and asking them to provide information they can't really provide (like screenshots of the very first transaction you did 3 years ago) or events like forcing non-verified users to submit KYC, not to mention about the recent hacks.
If you want to have 100% control of your money, Exchanges are the worst place you can go for.
I don't think its worth the interest paid by some exchanges to store your money for long term on their wallets.