Are there appliances which will run OpenVPN server, as opposed to routers?

Seems like you're limited by your upload bandwidth, which typically is a fraction of your download.

I've had connections of several hundred Mbps while overseas but when I turn on VPN connecting to my home network with an old Asus router running Open VPN server, the bandwidth will choke to like 5-8 Mbps down and 2 Mbps up.

That's still good enough to stream most video.

I have Surfshark subscription as well, which runs until June or so. Not sure if I will renew.

I've mostly used OpenVPN back to home because I can maintain all the cookies settings. For instance, if I connect to a hotel Wifi and loaded forums like FT or some other, then you get prompted to set cookie permissions again.

Problem with SurfShark and I assume most commercial VPNs is that sites like FT block it. And if forums block it, likely streaming apps will block it as well. When I'm overseas I typically use the Xfinity Stream, for live TV as well as recordings, Max and maybe some Apple TV + and Amazon Prime Video.

Like I said, most of the time I'm using OpenVPN, which probably has slower throughput than SurfShark but fewer problems connecting to streaming and other sites.