Using a VPS only gives you 1 extra location, and its the same one each time, so for some region-locking, or anonymization, it might not be as useful. But it does give you a bit of freedom to do extra things, write your own scripts, or automation, use as syncing or game server, and a VPS that only you use is unlikely to get labelled or identified as security or geo-lock circumventing method, or back door, as its just an infrequently visited IP address. A VPS is more work than a plug and play VPN but can be a good method of learning/testing how things work.

VPS, because only one people use them regularly, is directly tied to them, just with a different IP. However, VPN users can be not so easily identified and targeted by a middle man.

VPS is not going to help you mix in the crowd like a VPN can. VPS is a DIY hack that sounds good on paper, but for higher anonymity is nowhere as good.