You can get a perfectly functional used iPhone that runs the current OS for under $200. One only has to spend a lot if one wants the latest and greatest.
That still doesn't solve the issue that to get a blue bubble you must give up control over your mobile life to Apple. Almost nobody carries around two phones.
>That still doesn't solve the issue that to get a blue bubble you must give up control over your mobile life to Apple.
...and if you "want the blue bubble" you must give up control over your messaging to Apple.
And if I want to use WhatsApp, I have to use WhatsApp.