I'm not signed into a Google account on my phone, am I safe?

Isn't there some form of sampling bias here though? The kind of people who generally would care about these things likely also care about interoperability and would be on Android. I wouldn't be surprised if iPhone users simply don't care if Apple demands them to do anything.

I mean, the way I read it is "not a day goes by on which I am not regretting doing this". So, every day you are regretting it

Even the play store is sandboxed. Those stupid games covered in ads, no where near as bad when the app never has a network connection or access to any files outside its directory.

GrapheneOS: the private and secure mobile OS

GrapheneOS is a security and privacy focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility.

GrapheneOS (grapheneos.org)

Make your next phone a Pixel and load GrapheneOS onto it. Problem solved.

You kinda did though. I am unsure what your comment is actually truing to convey. Users only have 2 options of mobile OSs that are average consumer ready.

I swear, whenever I try to use it, it just makes me wish I could delete it. I ask the answer to a simple question and it gives me a whole essay on how this one aspect of what I said is more nuanced than one would imagine, and I'm left there waiting 5 minutes to get it to say anything of substance, but it doesn't when I explicitly tell it to "just give me the fucking answer", which I have to say every time for it to say anything useful.

It also doesn't work with timers or anything actually useful and I doubt it'll get any better with third party app access.

Google assistant was so much better, it even still works with its servers being down (for me at least) because it's a better assistant than whatever Gemini is supposed to be.

Does this work with multiple device accounts? Work requires my phone to have a personal/work account to be able to access applications like teams, and it's the only thing keeping me from swapping

In the sense of multiple users in Android settings? That works, it can be enabled in settings -> system -> multiple users. I haven't tested it though, as I don't have any need for that.

I use Microsoft Authenticator and Microsoft Outlook for work, and both work flawlessly with /e/OS. Thankfully I have not had any reason to test Teams, but I'm pretty sure that would work as well.

Wish there were better 3rd party mobile options. On pc I can install Linux on any laptop made in the last 15 years and it will work basically flawlessly. No such equivalent exists for smart phones

LineageOS

Pixel stopped publishing device trees since a few weeks ago, it will be significantly more difficult for the devs now to continue maintaining it.

Everyone has different preferences.

My separate debit card and transport card won't discharge or just stop working as likely as a phone. It also won't be suddenly affected by bugs, nor will it get slower. Nor do I get Google also tracking every single payment as well.

The only disadvantage is compatibility. So many things, and now even some shops use contactless-only terminals, while I got contactless or magnetic payments blocked. Only chip + PIN.
But anyway, the shop that had to downgrade to contactless only due to increased fees on regular old terminal also started asking people to pay in cash instead, again, due to the fees.

I would already do it now if not for banking apps

It's not necessarily a solution, but my Garmin watch can still hold some of my cards, so I don't need the NFC payment on my phone to duplicate that functionality. Do you wear or carry any other devices that can stand-in?

FairPhone can run Postmarket OS, eOS, iodeos, calyxos and lineageos.

Some have longer support than others. Also you can buy separate parts for their phones and they are modular.

Naah. I kinda didn’t. I was simply calling out all the kids that smugly looked down on anyone using anything that wasn’t android.

Now it seems they’re very quiet. Some gifts just wrap themselves, don’t they?

Unfortunately the reviews on Trustpilot and posts on Reddit make it painfully obvious that their customer service is basically nonexistent. Combined with the typical random account-closing most fintechs are known for, this is not a reliable option.

Looking at this comparison, iCard might be an option if you desperately need a way to use NFC payments on your phone. Reviews are good, but it appears to be a prepaid system. Lots of fees to get lost in, too.

But old school might be just fine, too. I just realized my card does fit into my phone case!

I can confirm that this works with LineageOS using something like Insular, and I have tested it.

No.
I tried a smart watch for a week or so, and hated wearing it.
Hadn't worn a watch in 20 years, and it felt very strange