I was using 8.8.8.8 for my DNS (I think it's google DNS?), but it was ridiculously slow for me. Wasn't sure if I was being penalized somehow for switching DNS provider and ended up changing back to my IP's DNS.
It's a good point about the 9Xers. I don't know how politically aware or motivated they are, but I do know that, like the rest of us, they want free access to information and communication. Even if it is just to send instagrams of their bun cha.