And I agree flashing is no fun. It takes time to find a rom that supports your device well, realize you need to root/unlock bootloader first, etc etc. Most of the time for casual flashing is spent finding the right tools and setting up.
My point is if you think flashing is no fun, working around the fact Google has moved more and more functionality to Google Play Services every year is going to be even less fun.
This is a product that only enthusiasts will find fun flashing or not, so why even bother paying extra for obsolete hardware?
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Edit because people don't like when you point out the obvious and now I'm rate-limited:
Privacy concerned smartphone "normies" have Apple. By definition "normies" are not concerned with Stallmanistic posturing about how Apple locks down their very secure devices.
If you have an ideological opposition to them that somehow doesn't apply to the large manufacturers making the phones these guys flash I'd love to know it
Web install takes moments these days, can be done by any 8th grader with a GrapheneOS phone, or PC with any major browser and a USB C cable.
It’s great that it’s so easy. I’m happy that people enjoy doing it. I simply don’t want to.
Let me know.