A general question on the efficacy of Duck Duck Go in blocking trackers.

A friend of mine with decent credentials in security is constantly shitting on any use of DDG. I use it on an e/OS which was preinstalled into settings to block both browsing and tracking through my apps, the worse being banking apps even when not in use. He has even gone so far as to state that they are probably faking the numbers of blocks to get people to keep using the products. Another line is that it is Russian built/propagated garbage product.

Does anyone else hold this belief? I have not seen much of this discussed here in this forum and also see it recommended often enough. I ask you fine folks because it just feels so defeating.

Sorry for, source: this god damn bloke told me.