Google Says Developer Verification Makes Android Safer. Critics Say It Just Makes Android More Closed

Thinking about this right now. I have a Pixel 6a that I bought on release. I’ve been using it for the last few years and have recently considered upgrading it. I want to stick with Graphene OS but I don’t want to drop $500+ for a new Pixel just to have developer verification cripple F-Droid in the near future. Not to mention Google limiting AOSP releases to the public. Part of me is wondering if I should just go back to iPhone instead of taking the risk of staying with GOS on a Pixel and having Google pull some more stupidity that makes utilizing GOS harder or impossible within the life of my next phone.