I think they do create a local backup for uploading to Google but do not restore from local backup.
No it does not do it now. Only option is cloud restore. I have done it last week.
Volume Control (Simple volume control application without unnecessary features) https://f-droid.org/packages/com.punksta.apps.volumecontrol/
How did you use it? They no longer allow restoring from local backup AFAIK?
They no longer allow local backup.
I believe it is still better due to raw material availability?
Is journald still binary? That alone made me turn away. I am using PCLinuxOS hence am systemd free. Stopped reading up on it.
Make sure that you are seeding random blocks instead of serial. That way peers who have a different block will exchange among themselves rather than waiting for you to provide each and every piece.
OOL What is this One Piece?
What do you get when you cross a snowman and a vampire?
Frostbite.
When did they remove local backups? Or is it removed for someone who has opted for Google Drive backup?
I never chose cloud option, so I have my local backup. Android by the way.
Earlier it used to be thus for random links but almost any YouTube link in WhatsApp if clicked leads to the playback happening in a small minimised window at the bottom with the main window almost blank under it. I can pull the video up to the top where it will play in portrait mode but won't rotate to landscape. No comment section seen. 
Have you checked the official website of WhatsApp? You can only restore local backups if you are on older Android versions. On newer Androids it is only Google backup.
https://faq.whatsapp.com/6181521285295518/?helpref=hc_fnav&cms_platform=android Nowhere will you find reference to local backup other than this. And my experience confirms it.
You might have succeeded because you and I might have been part of A/B testing but this is going to be the future.