Is there a benefit to using a node on my personal laptop instead of SSH from a VPS

Yes - nodes are the first‑class way to reach your laptop from a remote Gateway, and they unlock more than shell access. The Gateway runs on macOS/Linux (Windows via WSL2) and is lightweight (a small VPS or Raspberry Pi-class box is fine; 4 GB RAM is plenty), so a common setup is an always‑on host plus your laptop as a node.
No inbound SSH required. Nodes connect out to the Gateway WebSocket and use device pairing.
Safer execution controls. system.run is gated by node allowlists/approvals on that laptop.
More device tools. Nodes expose canvas, camera, and screen in addition to system.run.
Local browser automation. Keep the Gateway on a VPS, but run Chrome locally and relay control with the Chrome extension + a node host on the laptop.
SSH is fine for ad‑hoc shell access, but nodes are simpler for ongoing agent workflows and device automation.
Docs: Nodes, Nodes CLI, Chrome extension.