I don’t think the Pixel punishes you for unlocking the bootloader, does it? I bought a Pixel just to run GrapheneOS, and I feel like it’s the best of all worlds. It’s Android, so it has app compatibility, but it’s privacy respecting (even more so than iPhone) and security hardened.
I’ve debated switching to iPhone, but I suspect my country won’t get side loading, and then there was that research that pointed toward Apple tracking your activities even when you ask them not to (https://gizmodo.com/apple-iphone-analytics-tracking-even-when-off-app-store-1849757558). Between those two things, I just didn’t think I’d be happy with an iPhone. I might change my mind if we get side loading in the US, but I still don’t like their dishonesty about tracking.
I’ve decided the most privacy-conscious but still functional (in terms of app support) device is ironically a modified Pixel.
I was thinking a lot of those patents are FRAND (or compulsory). Are they not?