I like the idea of a crash test dummy.

I agree, and simple to me $200 new PC does this task just fine.

Yep and it also runs 30+ more containers without a hitch! Crazy times we live in.

In my words, I use Tailscale at home but not for this (yet). Tailscale is a simple mesh network that joins my home computers and phones while on separate networks. Like a VPN, but only the phone to PC traffic flows on that virtual private network.

I recommend Tera term. https://github.com/TeraTermProject/teraterm/releases

As much as I like PuTTY the ergonomics for "monitor this port as I plug/unplug the USB-to-Serial adapter" are so much better in TeraTerm.