Hello,
Long time FreeBSD server user. I have started using FreeBSD since 4.8 (really loved 5.0 cause it added SMP support :-)). However I dropped it using on all of our servers. In 2019 hardware support is not very relevant - almost all my machines are virtualized. What drove me away from FreeBSD to Linux(Particularly to Ubuntu) were the following three reasons:
1. Lack of skilled people who know BSD. It is much easier to find Ubuntu admin :) than FreeBSD one and I do want other people to be able to maintain the machines :-)
2. Lack of tutorials. What drive me towards BSD in 2002/2003 was the really GOOD documentation compared to Linux. Handbook was/is brilliant. The book "AbsoluteBSD" by Michale Lucal is/was brillians. BSD mailing list is very resourceful and helpful - it will never let you down. However in 2019 people are more looking for "tutorials" i.e "how to install apache on Ubuntu 18.04" rather than a book and user group to help them install it.
3. Lack of LTS distribution. Yes, I am aware of release cycle of BSD and that it "almost" have LTS support. NO, it is not true. If you have little manpower and a lot machines, Ubuntu is a better choice. With 5 year guaranteed support and after that "ports/packages" continue working is great. Yes, ok is not the best, but whya should I upgrade from let's say 8.x to 10.x just for the sake to install "nano" :-)
The only value I see for FreeBSD in 2019 is with Router/NAS appliances i.e Nas4Free, PfSense, OPNsense....
Times have chaned, BSD not a lot..
Sorry if my comment is too harsh...