Android is much, much more open. You can run an SSH server, run things like Termux or a full Linux VM, use more capable synchronization like Syncthing and give it real access to files you want to sync, run alternative app stores and more Open Source apps, and otherwise have more control over your device. It's not perfect, and I'm eagerly awaiting even more open options (e.g. vendors with official Graphene support), but it's remarkably decent.