> The BSDs have used it for years now and it works well enough

Not really.

> That’s a different thing than service management. It’s handled by the login class of the program’s user which specify such things.

So how do I make sure that HTTPD doesn't run away?

> How many services do you intend to run on a single machine/vm? rc is simple, use existing tooling, and it’s more of convenience than a new things you have to take care of.

Quite often more than one. systemd makes it easy.