They didn't 'win' - use a laptop. Phones are decent for certain things but no, you don't need to use WhatsApp, IoT apps -- most have bluetooth, and you don't have to 'interact with modern society'

Interact with good circles of people and stuff. I mean, it's cool that my pixel is some mini high powered TPU computer that can run apps, F-Droid etc, but I only really care about the 5g data link within it.

If any app refuses to run due to rooted phone -> open a browser go to the web version.

I know that you know these things and I'm not trying to make any point other than: no, you don't have to use those things. but if you want to, you can.

the next big thing to come is already here, Linux with its infinite mix of desktop environments, user environments, distros with pre-set up things. You can have a device use your SIM/e-SIMS.

Google and Apple's push notification system being locked for what they deem allowed and control the push tokens, browsers have push notifications too.

All I'm saying is: Google and Apple didn't win anything and there's great things like GrapheneOS, plus Google's TPU chips are awesome.

But, they most certainly didn't 'Win' and 'modern society' is crazy.