1) Bragging is obnoxious, although sometimes it can be endearingly child-like and guileless. I've known a few people who were unabashed braggers and honestly, I sometimes found it endearing. But this occurs in a particular personality type-- like Mr. Toad in Wind of the Willows. Mostly it's just obnoxious.
2) Humble-bragging is obnoxious and it's never endearing. "Oh, I have so many friends and they all want a piece of me, I can never keep them happy, what's a soul to do..." You know.
3) Self-criticism looks promising but it's often just an inverted form of bragging, albeit in a different way to humble-bragging. It's in order to show how much he can spare, as Dr. Johnson said. Or else it's to advertise one's frankness, unfliching honesty, humility, etc. etc. Or to fish for praise.
4) Really brutal self-criticism can just embarrass the people around you. What are they supposed to say?
So my question remains. Is it better form just not to praise or criticize yourself at all?
I would make an exception for comical boasting and self-criticism, if they really are comical and not a stealthy form of any of the above.
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