LND - more solutions / wallets adopted / can use it, but has too many bugs, clogs, conflicts.
CLN - light, fast, less features (but you can use plugins without changing the core code), less apps use it directly, less wallet apps, code is more fine tuned and therefore is not so buggy
Acinq - stable, dedicated to specific apps / solutions, less wallet apps support it, I think is a bit under appreciated because was shadowed by LND and CLN
Rust - good, I didn't test it on a dedicated node, but I like how it works in Electrum with trampoline channels
You have also Immortan implementation, that is also under rated. Is a light LN node implementation in SBW, but should have more attention on it.
For businesses I recommend CLN
For playing around and learning - LND
If you do specific apps, try Acinq
If you write mobile apps, try Immortan
If you create a desktop app try Rust.
Each one have its own flavor.
On this aspect I find very funny and on point this meme:
I think you still don't understand how LN works.
There's no such thing as "trusted" node for LN, other than YOURS.
Also Zeus can work with LNDHUB wallets/accounts (lntxbot, lnbits), so no need for a home node.
If you do not want / can't run your own home node, then you will have to use a semi-custodial wallet for LN or use Blixt, Breez, SBW, Electrum, that are LN nodes on your own mobile.
You are still talking about many different things without understanding how these things works.
most of them require the user to run a full bitcoin node.
A desktop LN node cannot run without a full bitcoin node!
Yes, nevertheless there are LN nodes that can run with a remote full bitcoin node, as I just mention to you (but seems you do not pay attention): Blixt, Breez, Electrum, SBW. But those are mobile LN nodes, except Electrum and Blixt (Mac) that are also desktop light LN nodes.
use mempool.space API's as a replacement for Bitcoin node
mempool have nothing to dowith replacement of a bitcoin node.
mempool READS the data from a bitcoin node. And is not really necessary to run it.
Man, you really have to read more about how nodes and LN nodes works.
Start here, read every day something new:
bitcoin.page
lightning.how
darthcoin.substack.com