It should be easier to port forward SMTP to the mailcow installation for incoming mail and only use NPM for the web interface.

If netbird has enough DNS support you might be able to setup all the mailcow recommended settings there so you have auto discovery from mail-clients on the netbird VPN.

Incoming mail is pretty easy to get working anywhere, but outgoing is restricted if your IP adress is in any way suspicious. Using sendgrid, authsmtp, or something similar is the easy way.

For the hardcore, finding a VPS with a company that blocks outgoing smtp as default but will unblock if you convince them you’re responsible can be fun and/or frustrating. You’ll have a mail relay there for outgoing email at the minimum but can also get incoming email via that server. The smallest possible server should be enough.

Frogger, played a lot of that and had to stop myself before crossing roads for awhile after.

In my mind I was trying to optimize moving the same direction as the car and sneak in before the meeting car got there. I’m lucky to be alive.