However it runs Android so you can't escape Google if you go that route. In terms of functionality and quality is it the best option available though, their "AI" powered upscaling is pretty damn impressive.
Any purchases can be paid for with gift cards.
I like drawing and note-taking with my S-Pen enabled tablet. There's no good open-source alternative to Artflow or Nebo (both paid apps).
Sure, you could pirate it... even with morality aside, I'd rather trust Google than random APKs acquired from the dark corners of the Internet.
And with this setup, Google doesn't really have much information about my person, so I don't care if they have info on the device (assuming you take proper steps to keep the device anonymous).