Occasionally I flash a pixel device back to an old firmware.

Every time, I am surprised how speedy and lag-free it feels.

I would really like a 'security updates only, no other updates' phone, because I value speed over some UI redesign or whatever is in the next android update.

I realize my experiences are anecdotal to the two Pixel 4a phones in my family, but the numerous reddit threads about the Adaptive Battery issue (4a) and the later unexplained stand-by battery drain (4a & 7) seem to show that I have at least not been the only one experiencing this.