I would disagree - configuring nginx/apache/whatever to just display a static site is really easy - and honestly - it dosen't take much time.
Honestly, i had more trouble helping my friend with 'simple shared hosting' CMS to setup his webpage correctly, than with setting up nginx on ubuntu for the first time.
If you're an absolute beginner - you don't need things to be online, just stick with local.
What do you need it to be online for?
If we want people who know web programming, basic server management on a 5$/mo VPS is something they'll need to learn, sorry.
If people want to dabble, stick with local.
If people want a business result with minimal friction - stick to instagram, facebook, medium, shopify etc. Existing platforms cover 99% of people's needs when they think they want a website. They're either trying to sell or promote something - existing platforms cover those needs very well - a website is something that fewer and fewer people will ever need to have as time goes on. This begs the question - what are people learning html/css for? Tell them the truth - we'll need fewer 'coders' in the next 30 years, either go get a real computer science degree or look for a different line of work. Just my opinion of course :)
I need it to be online because that was the underlying motivation for me starting the tutorial in the first place, and if you haven't shown me that, your tutorial failed to address the actual purpose.
Growing up, there was nothing worse than the tutorials or classes that didn't actually do the thing you wanted: "learn to program a game! *will not actually be able to have a game anyone can play at end of tutorial".
And since computer science isn't about the web, and university is a pretty bad place to learn programming, respectfully your advice is the opposite of mine.
University is a bad place to learn programming, if you want free education via paid internships, a high starting salary and opportunity to work for a giant corps in the future or even straight out of school.
A tutorial about making games is about as sensible as a tutorial about making airplanes. Go to school... Tutorials are good for fixing a leaky faucet...
Every shared host I've ever used would let you just SFTP your files to the server (which, for static or PHP is all you need,) and they all come with their services already configured, and tend to work out of the box. I've only ever had to deal with the CMS when viewing logs and creating email accounts.
Configuring a server may be relatively easy, but not having to is easier.
Honestly, i had more trouble helping my friend with 'simple shared hosting' CMS to setup his webpage correctly, than with setting up nginx on ubuntu for the first time.