@rraggl @e_mydata @GrapheneOS @calyxos @LineageOS @shiftphones @jolla @postmarketOS
The statement I made that you responded to stated "ONE of my hesitancies" in a preset smartphone, not "all".
I am not just looking for a degoogled smartphone, I am looking for one without an AI, without any biometric ID scanners/sensors (like the fingerprint one's that are so common) with a physical keyboard, with the ability to get connected to service in my country (USA) and that meet military rugged standards for durability. *None of the preset OS options have a physical keyboard.
#Volla states it pretty directly on their website that they use a digital assistant of an AI, but beyond that they're not connectable to service in my country. But they are the only option that comes with a preset OS, is degoogled & is durable enough for my needs.
#Murena aka #fairphones/shiftphones (as they're sold in my country) are vaguer about it & yet it's pretty cleat they've got the same unwanted & unwelcome element on their devices. Beyond which at $800-$900, a fairphone/shiftphone is definitely too expensive for me, as I'm on disability benefits, those conditions barring me from paid work being the very same that make me need physical keyboards & durable devices!
#Graphene only works with pixel, aka breakaway glass phones, so even if they didn't, it'd be a moot point for me.
#Calyx & #postmarket don't have any phone sold with their OS on it, so beyond sandbagging me in your push for this, they are irrelevant to my argument that you are responding to.
Jolla phones aren't sold in my country at all, so they're another element of said sandbagging.
Now on realistic options & my considerations:
#PostmarketOS I might also get with one of the 2 or 3 similar to blackberry phones that are out now, after that desktop is setup. (Price wise at around $400-$500 they're at the higher end for me but within a year or so I can likely save& budget in for this option.)
If #pinephone brings back their devices with keyboards, as they used to have them, that'd be a 3rd and best option, as they have the kill switch on microphones & cameras.
#Calyx in the Motorola phone acceptance might have at least similar durability to a Volla, have service connection in my country & I don't think they have an AI integrated into their OS but still don't have physical keyboards. This is why I'm considering getting a separate keyboard & Motorola phone, after I setup a desktop computer to use them, as even with paying for the added keyboard that's likely my most affordable option.($70-250)
*I've not had an active smartphone for most of the past decade, especially as wherenever I leave my property it's rarely for under a 50 mile round trip drive of an outing, which has at times been problematic but it's also why unless I actually see something that I really can use & will improve things, I won't buy or even seriously consider things I can't.