I am actually going to end up using bisq2 to buy bitcoin via a reputation-based interaction, turn it into some monero on probably bisq1, and then use the monero to start interacting with haveno. it’s way too many steps and fees but it saves me from ever doing any KYC.

a reputation-based trade should still happen inside the DEX. that way the trade can contribute to the seller’s reputation score. bypassing it with a simplex contact would not let the DEX see that a trade actually happened.