This guy (https://medium.com/@amd_2793/my-million-dollar-domain-hobby-...) actually used Google's rankings of domain value from .app to then squat domains on two other flat priced TLDs - io and ai!
Not to mention the country restricted ones that you can only get if you're a resident, like bruh.
That said, part of the issue you flag is just perception. It's like going with a financial services firm that has a Wall Street or "Fifth Avenue" address in New York City versus a firm that has an address in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Both might be fine but we often attach significance to an address (even if its just a mailbox).
To your last point, I think its ultimately good that (many) Country restricted TLDs have geographic restrictions.
What's wrong with .org?
Also: if you take the .org and the .com is already in use, be ready to have the name taken off you if they get successful, or for some of your users to mistakenly go to the wrong place. To avoid one of those things happening later if the .com is available now you could buy both, but then the availability of the .com becomes the deciding factor again not the .org and you are paying for two domains.