For those who are trying to put space between them and Google GrapheneOS + play services is a bit of a mixed bag given that it only runs on "Google hardware" (i.e. Pixel devices) and those additional play services let Google in through the back door. A non-Google device running LineageOS or some other AOSP derivative + F-Droid serves this purpose well and comes without any dependency on Google or it's services. For those few proprietary 'apps' which are only distributed through the 'play store' something like Aurora store (an alternative play store cliënt which works without a Google account) can be used.

One would think a pixel with a different rom would be far morelikely to be secure and private than the chinesium that is the norm for roms outside of the pixel, no?

Yeah, some good points in here.

You can have multiple profiles in Android, so you can, for example, have your main GrapheneOS profile be google-free and have a "spyware trash" profile for things that won't work without tithing to Sauron.

Completely agree. Overall a better install experience. Can install google play super easily after install as well if you aren't worried about that.

Graphene is only supported on Pixel devices however.

A very good point. You can run Lineage on basically anything...

> if you've got this guy to do it for you then you're good I guess.

as long as he'll also provide the bimonthly necessary tech support with a fast response time.