Meanwhile, I'm getting pushed away from iOS when I can't customise basic things and the Phone app (you know, the main use of a phone) takes 30s to open, even after restores.
Your comment is one of few where people report unrelated problems with their Google Phone. Different versions, different problems, no problems, all kinds of things. Open talk.
You've however brought up an Apple device and the comments under your comment are all Apple customers telling you that you either don't use your device properly since using your phone as a phone is "no longer the primary means of communication" or that it might be your fault (perhaps you have too many contacts in your phone book).
So while problems with the Google device are something normal, problems with the Apple device seem to be something extraordinary.
As for customization, that's sort of Apple's main feature set: It will always work the same everywhere on every device.
I can't even remember the last time I used the actual voice calling function on my phone. It's probably been a couple of years now.
While the phone app remains important for some, it’s no longer the primary means of communication for most folks, especially with the rise of messaging apps and social media.