[prmoustache]

Because:

- I prefer running FOSS apps on my smartphone

- I want to be able to install anything I want on it without relying on what is accepted by a "store"

- I don't want an Apple account

- I want to own and be able to have the shit I want running in the background (like syncthing)

- I want to be able to access my file the way I want, including using a shell

- I want to be able to run any linux app

- and more inportantly I want to be the owner of my phone, not merely the user of a license to use it following the term set by a company from an hostile nation

[jmaker]

I’ve been down that road, was fun, but growingly felt to me like too much maintenance that wasn’t worth the effort, distracting from more important things. Like desktop Linux.

Now I’m at a point where Android itself, even Pixels feel that way. I really tried to make the Pixel my daily driver. In hindsight, it was just too naive of me.

[prmoustache]

I don't really see the maintenance issue. My grapheneOS has OTA updates, I can install and update apps using fdroid and aurora and not having contactless payment option via google wallet is the only small limitation I have found and it is not a big loss as I can still pay easily without carrying cash. Carrying a plastic card is not a burden.

[jmaker]

What kind of apps do you get from F-Droid that are useful to you that aren’t available on Play? I mean, to me most of the F-Droid apps are WIP with legacy UI and I need to trust the publisher and that their handle isn’t hijacked.

What are all the use cases that let you avoid Play?

[andrekandre]

same for me; its too bad though we cant have some kind of foss shell, and bank/contactless payment apps can run in some secure vm/box so we can have the best of both

[prmoustache]

Or just a standard protocol that can be implemented with FOSS apps.