I occasionally download my photos to my own personal storage device. I usually do this when I start receiving numerous reminders that my i-phone storage is full.
Downside of my personal storage is that the photos do not keep all the back-up data. I know the date the photo is taken, but not necessarily the exact location.
I don’t like having photos stored in the cloud. Can I lose my back-up? Yes. I try to have a secondary back-up as well, but don’t do that as often as I should. Frankly, I have so many digital photos, I’m not sure ultimately why I’m saving all of them.