VPN configured correctly? problem with Gnome Ubuntu 16.04

I recently installed OpenVPN on Ubuntu 16.04, following instructions here: https://riseup.net/en/vpn/vpn-red/linux, and then configuring to connect to riseupvpn

I then added the VPN network and I can connect using the Gnome network connections (at least I am told I am connected to riseup network), however all webpages just hang and nothing loads.

I can seem to connect using command-line sudo openvpn --client --dev tun --auth-user-pass --remote vpn.riseup.net 1194 --keysize 256 --auth SHA256 --cipher AES-256-CBC --ca RiseupCA.pem , and I am judging the success of connection to the fact that my public IP seems to change. The command prints: Mon Oct 9 23:05:18 2017 Initialization Sequence Completed ....but then I don't see any other log info.

I am wondering if the problem is the VPN autoconnect problem discussed in the literature?

I don't mind connecting via commandline, I'm just not entirely sure if the VPN is functioning correctly.

Also, some related questions: I have riseup black account and bitmask successfully installed. I seem to be able to connect; is bitmask far superior to openvpn and riseup server? What happens if I run openvpn to connect to riseup server but then also run bitmask?

I've also been thinking about running my own vpn?? per these instructions https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-set-up-an-openvpn-server-on-ubuntu-16-04. Can anyone help me understand the benefits and drawbacks of these 3 options?

1. Bitmask
2. OpenVPN configured to Riseup
3. OpenVPN configured to my own server.

Am trying to base my decision on a balance between anonymity and ease of use. For instance I know if I use a VPS to create VPN it in some ways defeats the purpose of anonymity because I have to pay for the VPS and payment channels can be traced.

If I use RiseupVPN seems like a great solution, except sometimes maybe the server is down...and it doesn't seem like I can change the location of the IP that I connect to (it's easy to see that my IP is a Riseup server)

Bitmask seems really cool, I'm just not sure if I actually understand the tech behind it. The thing just connects but I don't really understand what's happening behind the GUI, and it seems like I only have 3 options of servers to connect to.

Thanks in advance for any advice and info that will help me make a more informed choices about my digital privacy, and I'm very appreciative and inspired by the work you do.