The counterpoint to the 'you have to download a google keyboard...' comment is that Google have started pushing more stuff into add-on apps rather than pushing into AOSP is that vendors control OS updates, so pushes to AOSP take a long time to get to consumers.
It's a lot easier to push an app update through the Play store vs. convincing vendors to push out timely OS updates. And Google have been slowly moving non core OS features into updatable apps.
It's arguably a loss to AOSP, but at least in the short term helpful to consumers. I say short-term because the features are no longer open-sourced, which is a shame and a loss in the longer-term.
For me, the main frustration has been that Google has its one keyboard (Gboard) for latin languages and then the Japanese IME as separate keyboards. I use English, French, and Japanese keyboards and switch between pretty often, but it's a bit of a pain.
There's noticable lag when switching keyboards that seem endemic in the model of "multiple app keyboards", whereas a more integrated experience would benefit some
Agreed that the "Play Store" model is better for consumers on phones that don't get updates (been there). I hope they try to pull stuff into the core project as well, though. Kinda sad to see Android becoming what people always thought it would end up (a Google-centric venture)
It's a lot easier to push an app update through the Play store vs. convincing vendors to push out timely OS updates. And Google have been slowly moving non core OS features into updatable apps.
It's arguably a loss to AOSP, but at least in the short term helpful to consumers. I say short-term because the features are no longer open-sourced, which is a shame and a loss in the longer-term.