Why can't I have iOS but without all the loss of control and privacy. For $1k/device can't someone establish a healthy competitor to iPhones that isn't low quality like android? The crappy deal these days is you can't have a phone that only calls and texts period.

Forget UI and all that. 4G modem and an OS that displays UI for calling and texting with formally verified E2E encryption for both with no plans to offer any features outside of this period! I would buy that in a heartbeat.