I agree with you and the OP of this thread. I don't want to support a company with a walled garden approach and they over complicate things to be unique
I think the argument is that the monopoly is present because it's basically pointless outside of China to launch a phone without play services. So while you can release a phone based on AOSP, it's not going to be successful financially without the Google apps and tweaks from Play Services
Is the A54's battery that good? I've heard nothing but positive things about the 23 Ultra battery and I'd assume you get more than twice the performance/features right?
It makes the choices look strange though. You see the Google suggestions and the Apple suggestions even though those aren't the default. This is that walled garden in action on both Apple and Google's side.
This really helps me understand the situation better. I appreciate the time and thought put into this response. It's times like these I am thankful I didn't overspend. I listened to my parents and bought a house that wasn't flashy but was suitable for my situation. Most people I know did not do that, and I constantly wonder how they are making ends meet. Some of them make less than I do.
It's incredible how much they are involved in