Are you talking for all of us XL 2 users ? Not a single slow down on mine, thanks. Was on beta the first day it was available.
I'm glad the Pixel 2 XL works for you! I just have a personal grudge against the pixel line of phones are they compete with OEM's directly without bringing good hardware to the table (except that god tier camera of course)
As usual, one must exercise care when consuming Internet content. Most of it is, quite unfortunately, "fake news" or "sponsored content".
Also I wanted to ask you about a previous comment you left. What really upset me was you saying Samsung Software is somehow not a feature because it's made by an OEM. Do you think Samsung should not be making features because it fragments the market? Because to me they've really done a good faith effort to be apple in quality of features and ecosystem of products. I really enjoy the care they have put into the user's quality of life. I could not see myself using anything but a Samsung Galaxy.
I do understand the appeal for the note though.
I use Samsung's DeX destop environment with a cheap USB c dongle that makes my note 8 a giant 24" Chromebook PC when I'm at my desk. It's really a desktop killer for me.