If you have older Pixel, Fairphone, (some) Motorola, Shift or Braxtech, iodeOS is better because you can lock the bootloader and the installation is as easy as with GrapheneOS.
iodeOS/ LineageOS and especially GrapheneOS (if you don't stick with older hardware) are the best things I've found for the mobile. It's pure freedom without restricting yourself to a dumb phone.
It's even more worth now when Google will start to ask developers for intrusive verification. I don't have to worry about apps that I'm using doesn't meet Google's bullshit approval because developer doesn't want to give so much personal data to entity like Google.
I was thinking of buying Google Streamer but when I found out about this, I'll wait and see what happens with apps outside Google Play Store. I know that you still can sideload but I don't think the apps will update automatically.
Your new phone and GameNative.
If you insist on a PC- Bazzite have a cool idea where they use Fedora atomic, the downside is that it's Fedora. If you feel like you can get alone with Arch try CachyOS. I use Nobara but I'm not quite happy with in because I've had so many issues with updates, and stuff not working properly and in the past was very confusing what you should've to install programs. I'm not sure if there's a reason to use Nobara now when they use the kernel patches from CachyOS and removed all patches for specific vendors (like Asus and Lenovo) except for Surface laptops. The initial setup is great.
If you have legacy or in the short future legacy Nvidia GPU don't go with Nobara.
If you want to set it up yourself like you want check out openSUSE.
I didn't mentioned Debian and Debian-based because Steam is recommended to be installed as system app and Debian have very old packages. Debian unstable or maybe better PikaOS can work for that.
I didn't get what you mean.
If you're happy with your current device keep using it if you think you're safe in context of your threat midel. Less e-waste the better. For whatever reason you don't want to change you current device and you're not happy with the stock software you have the freedom to explore custum ROMs for your specific phone. That's what I did. Sure this can be time consuming and not that easy.
What do you mean "seeing if a different ROM would work"? For example with LineageOS (for MicroG also fixes device integrity), iodeOS, even something like Ubuntu Touch they tell you what isn't working.
What do you mean you have to "make the comumentation for others"?
But on GrapheneOS and iodeOS is literally 4 clicks after turning on OEM Unlock and USB Debugging on the phone. On the top of that if you're buying a new phone and don't want so much choice GrapheneOS is only for Pixels.
I don't know where you live but to hear that you don't know if you'll resive phone calls is wild. If this isn't a sign to change I don't know what to say.
Also you can always go back to stock and on Pixels is something like 4 clicks.
But don't have high expectations. It definitely will be bad. It will be only for testing with hopes that it will get good some day.
For now Librewolf/ Fennec, Millvad/ Firefox Focus and Tor are good in my opinion.
And that is the big reason why you should update. It's a cat and mouse situation. This is the reason why GrapheneOS offer security previews and encourage you to install them.
AI will take as to the future shit 🤣
You: Hey Google (or the hell the new assistant names are), I'm beening arrested could you lock donw my phone!"
The bot: Sorry, I couldn't get that. connecting to the ChatGPT/ Gemini servers
If this was the only big problem and only because of work your friend could've buy a cheap second phone only for work. I did that. That way you have privacy and security for your personal life and better convince for work.
But this is different. Linux doesn't work well on many PCs especially laptops because the manufacturs don't give the needed drivers and firmware. And on the top of that many programs are built with Windows and maybe macOS in mind. GrapheneOS is not entirely different operating system and is only for Pixels with Google's own firmware and everything work the same as stock ROM.
It's the opposite- you'll come to the bright side, to the free lands