Uncomfortable Questions About Android Developer Verification

This shouldn't just be "questions"; this should be a full-on opposition. Do not give them even an inch, or they'll take a mile.

"debugger vendors in 2047 distributed numbered copies only, and only to officially licensed and bonded programmers." - Richard Stallman, The Right to Read, 1997

Why is it so complex to have a foss mobile OS.

I only have Linux PCs (laptops) and servers, 100% of my work and personal stuff is done there (though for work I do need to hop into MS365, Google Workspace, Zoom, etc, hooray for browsers, my final firewall between me and the walled gardens, though we can have a whole discussion on that).

For mobile, we have PostmarketOS, Phosh, Ubuntu Touch. I really must try living in them, is it on me? IDK, our government even has an identity app for iOS and Android. I should not be using it, I should stick to web. But its so much more convenient. I'm just weak, aren't I?

Maybe I should go for Ubuntu touch, with an iPad on the side or something. At least my most personal device is something I control then. Or just keep my Linux laptop handy (or make a cyberdeck!). But I want a computing platform that does not require carrying a bag. It's kinda sad. Even GrapheneOS (one of the most personal and secure mobile computing experiences out there)'s future is in the hands of its greatest adversary, the one that does not want you to have a personal computing experience.

I could be one of the people running an ungoogled phone, but my bank refuses to have an app that runs on an ungoogled OS for "security"

My bank blocks my mobile with Lineage OS, and it's not even possible to login to the web site without the mobile app. Absolutely pathetic.

Now I have to keep my 4 year old phone with 2 year outdated Android to access the bank application. Which deemed more safe then my mobile with latest security updates. Haha

It's even better than that. Banks (for example Revolut) consider several years old phones, running ancient OS (last I checked they allowed A10) without security updates for some 7 years, so riddled with zero-click/RCE vulnerabilities, but they do not allow GrapheneOS, which is currently the safest OS in mobiles (on par/beating iOS, depending whom you ask).

Yes, banks* claim phones riddled with maximum severity security issues are secure. Also phones that are rooted but using magisk modules to conceal this fact, and use spoofed signatures from ancient hardware, but the most safe platform is not secure enough for them.

Go figure.

*not all, there are notable exceptions explicitly supporting secure platforms through the modern Hardware Attestation model.