[pdsouza]

> But I kinda just want a phone that just starts a linux based operating system like a PC, and lets me do everything I can on my linux PC in a touch-centric way.

I wanted almost the same thing so I built Maru: https://maruos.com

Maru runs Linux in a container alongside Android so you can have the best of both worlds. Hook up to an external monitor with a BT keyboard and mouse and you have a full Debian-based desktop at your disposal.

Maru only supports older hardware (Nexus 5, Nexus 7) at the moment, but newer devices (Nexus 5X/6P, HTC 10, Moto Z2 Force, Galaxy S9) have working ports on our forum and should have official images available soon: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/maru-os-dev

We're an open-source project too, so you can even attempt your own port if you own an unsupported device: https://github.com/maruos/maruos